Novel photoacid generators, resist compositions, and patterning process

ABSTRACT

Photoacid generators generate sulfonic acids of formula (1a) upon exposure to high-energy radiation. 
 
RC(═O)R 1 —COOCH(CF 3 )CF 2 SO 3   − H +   (1a) 
 
R is hydroxyl, alkyl, aryl, hetero-aryl, alkoxy, aryloxy or hetero-aryloxy, R 1  is a divalent organic group which may have a heteroatom (O, N or S) containing substituent, or R 1  may form a cyclic structure with R. The photoacid generators are compatible with resins and can control acid diffusion and are thus suited for use in chemically amplified resist compositions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No. 2006-263934 filed in Japan on Sep. 28, 2006, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to novel photoacid generators, resist compositions comprising the same, and a patterning process using the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

While a number of recent efforts are being made to achieve a finer pattern rule in the drive for higher integration and operating speeds in LSI devices, DUV and VUV lithography is thought to hold particular promise as the next generation in microfabrication technology. In particular, photolithography using an ArF excimer laser as the light source is thought requisite to the micropatterning technique capable of achieving a feature size of 0.13 μm or less.

The ArF lithography started partial use from the fabrication of 130-nm node devices and became the main lithography since 90-nm node devices. Although lithography using F₂ laser (157 nm) was initially thought promising as the next lithography for 45-nm node devices, its development was retarded by several problems. A highlight was suddenly placed on the ArF immersion lithography that introduces a liquid having a higher refractive index than air (e.g., water, ethylene glycol, glycerin) between the projection lens and the wafer, allowing the projection lens to be designed to a numerical aperture (NA) of 1.0 or higher and achieving a higher resolution. See Journal of Photopolymer Science and Technology, Vol. 17, No. 4, p 587 (2004).

In the photolithography using an ArF excimer laser (wavelength 193 nm) as the light source, a high sensitivity resist material capable of achieving a high resolution at a small dose of exposure is needed to prevent the degradation of precise and expensive optical system materials. Among several measures for providing high sensitivity resist material, the most common is to select each component which is highly transparent at the wavelength of 193 nm. For example, polyacrylic acid and derivatives thereof, norbornene-maleic anhydride alternating copolymers, polynorbornene, ring-opening metathesis polymers, and hydrogenated ring-opening metathesis polymers have been proposed as the base resin. This choice is effective to some extent in that the transparency of a resin alone is increased.

Studies have also been made on photoacid generators. In prior art chemically amplified resist compositions for lithography using KrF excimer laser, photoacid generators capable of generating alkane- or arene-sulfonic acid are used. However, the use of these photoacid generators in chemically amplified resist compositions for ArF lithography results in an insufficient acid strength to scissor acid labile groups on the resin, a failure of resolution or a low sensitivity. Thus these photoacid generators are not suited for the fabrication of microelectronic devices.

For the above reason, photoacid generators capable of generating perfluoroalkanesulfonic acid having a high acid strength are generally used in ArF chemically amplified resist compositions. These photoacid generators capable of generating perfluoroalkanesulfonic acid have already been developed for use in the KrF resist compositions. For instance, JP-A 2000-122296 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,048,672 (or JP-A 11-282168) describe photoacid generators capable of generating perfluorohexanesulfonic acid, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, perfluoro-4-ethylcyclohexanesulfonic acid, and perfluorobutanesulfonic acid. JP-A 2002-214774, US Patent Application Publication 2003-0113659 A1 (JP-A 2003-140332), and US Patent Application Publication 2002-0197558 A1 describe novel photoacid generators capable of generating perfluoroalkyl ether sulfonic acids.

On the other hand, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid and homologues thereof (collectively referred to as PFOS) are considered problematic with respect to their stability (or non-degradability) due to C—F bonds, and biological concentration and accumulation due to hydrophobic and lipophilic natures. The US EPA adopted Significant New Use Rule, listing 13 PFOS-related chemical substances and further listing 75 chemical substances although their use in the photoresist field is excluded. It has already been proposed to apply the Rule to perfluoroalkanesulfonic acids and derivatives thereof, summing to 183 chemical substances.

Facing the PFOS-related problems, manufacturers made efforts to develop partially fluorinated alkane sulfonic acids having a reduced degree of fluorine substitution. For instance, JP-A 2004-531749 describes the development of α,α-difluoroalkanesulfonic acid salts from α,α-difluoroalkene and a sulfur compound and discloses a resist composition comprising a photoacid generator which generates such sulfonic acid upon irradiation, specifically di(4-tert-butylphenyl)iodonium 1,1-difluoro-2-(1-naphthyl)ethanesulfonate. JP-A 2004-2252 describes the development of α,α,β,β-tetrafluoroalkanesulfonic acid salts from α,α,β,β-tetrafluoro-α-iodoalkane and sulfur compound and discloses a photoacid generator capable of generating such a sulfonic acid and a resist composition comprising the same. JP-A 2002-214774 discloses such photoacid generators having difluorosulfoacetic acid alkyl esters (e.g., 1-(alkoxycarbonyl)-1,1-difluoromethanesulfonate) and difluorosulfoacetic acid amides (e.g., 1-carbamoyl-1,1-difluoromethanesulfonate) although their synthesis method is lacking. Furthermore, JP-A 2005-266766 discloses a photosensitive composition comprising a compound capable of generating a partially fluorinated alkane sulfonic acid having a sulfonylamide structure derived from perfluoroalkylene disulfonyl difluoride.

The substances disclosed in these patents have a reduced degree of fluorine substitution, but suffer from several problems. They are less degradable because they are based on substantially undegradable hydrocarbon skeletons and they do not possess readily degradable substituent groups such as ester groups. A certain limit is imposed on the molecular design for changing the size of alkanesulfonic acid. The starting materials containing fluorine are expensive.

With respect to the immersion lithography, there remain some problems. Minute water droplets are left on the resist and wafer after the immersion exposure, which can often cause damages and defects to the resist pattern profile. The resist pattern after development can collapse or deform into a T-top profile. There exists a need for a patterning process which can form a satisfactory resist pattern after development according to the immersion lithography.

In forming fine feature size patterns, the problem of pattern density dependency, that is, the size difference between isolated and grouped patterns having different optical contrast becomes significant. Using a photoacid generator capable of generating an acid with low diffusion, the problem of pattern density dependency can be overcome to some extent, but not to a satisfactory extent. While the resist composition is required to achieve a further reduction of the pattern rule as well as a good balance of sensitivity, substrate adhesion, and etching resistance, it is also required to ameliorate the pattern density dependency fundamentally without sacrifice of resolution.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The photoacid generator (PAG) produces an acid which must satisfy many requirements including a sufficient acid strength to cleave acid labile groups in a resist material, stability in the resist material during shelf storage, an adequate diffusion in the resist material, low volatility, minimal dissolution in water, no foreign matter left after development and resist removal, and good degradability in that it is decomposed away after the expiration of its role in lithography without imposing a load to the environment. No acids produced by prior art PAGs satisfy these requirements. Moreover, resist compositions using prior art photoacid generators fail to solve the problems of pattern density dependency and line edge roughness without sacrifice of resolution.

An object of the invention is to solve the problems of prior art photoacid generators, and to provide novel photoacid generators suited for use in resist materials which generators are effective in the ArF immersion lithography due to minimized dissolution in water and controlled formation of foreign matter inherent to the immersion lithography, and overcome the problems of pattern density dependency and line edge roughness. Another object is to provide a resist composition using the photoacid generator, and a patterning process.

The inventors have found that by starting with 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol which is readily available in the industry, compounds having 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-acyloxypropane-1-sulfonate or 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-arylcarbonyloxypropane-1-sulfonate having a carbonyl group, carboxyl group or carboxylate ester or lactone structure can be prepared, and that these compounds, typically onium salts, oximes and imides are effective photoacid generators in chemically amplified resist compositions. The present invention is predicated on this finding.

The present invention provides novel photoacid generators, resist compositions and a patterning process, defined below.

[1] A photoacid generator for chemically amplified resist compositions which generates a sulfonic acid upon exposure to high-energy radiation selected from UV, deep-UV, EUV, electron beam, x-ray, excimer laser, gamma-ray and synchrotron radiation, said sulfonic acid having the general formula (1a): RC(═O)R¹—COOCH(CF₃)CF₂SO₃ ⁻H⁺  (1a) wherein R is selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryl or C₄-C₁₅ hetero-aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkoxy group, and a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryloxy or C₄-C₁₅ hetero-aryloxy group, R¹ is a divalent C₁-C₂₀ organic group which may have a substituent group containing a heteroatom selected from oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur atoms, or R¹ may form at least one cyclic structure with R. [2] A sulfonium salt having the general formula (2): RC(═O)—R¹—COOCH(CF₃)CF₂SO₃ ⁻R²R³R⁴S⁺  (2) wherein R is selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryl or C₄-C₁₅ hetero-aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkoxy group, and a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryloxy or C₄-C₁₅ hetero-aryloxy group, R¹ is a divalent C₁-C₂₀ organic group which may have a substituent group containing a heteroatom selected from oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur atoms, or R¹ may form at least one cyclic structure with R, R², R³ and R⁴ are each independently selected from the group consisting of substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl, alkenyl and oxoalkyl groups, and substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₈ aryl, aralkyl and aryloxoalkyl groups, or at least two of R², R³ and R⁴ may bond together to form a ring with the sulfur atom. [3] A sulfonium salt having the general formula (2a): RC(═O)—R¹—COOCH(CF₃)CF₂SO₃ ⁻(R⁵(O)_(n))_(m)Ph′S⁺Ph₂  (2a) wherein R is selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryl or C₄-C₁₅ hetero-aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkoxy group, and a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryloxy or C₄-C₁₅ hetero-aryloxy group, R¹ is a divalent C₁-C₂₀ organic group which may have a substituent group containing a heteroatom selected from oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur atoms, or R¹ may form at least one cyclic structure with R, R⁵ is a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl or alkenyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₄ aryl group, m is an integer of 1 to 5, n is 0 or 1, Ph is phenyl, and Ph′ is a phenyl group in which a number “m” of hydrogen atoms are substituted by R⁵(O)_(n)— groups. [4] A iodonium salt having the general formula (2b): RC(═O)—R¹—COOCH(CF₃)CF₂SO₃ ⁻[(R⁵(O)_(n))_(m)Ph′]₂I⁺  (2b) wherein R is selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryl or C₄-C₁₅ hetero-aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkoxy group, and a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryloxy or C₄-C₁₅ hetero-aryloxy group, R¹ is a divalent C₁-C₂₀ organic group which may have a substituent group containing a heteroatom selected from oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur atoms, or R¹ may form at least one cyclic structure with R, R⁵ is a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl or alkenyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₄ aryl group, m is an integer of 1 to 5, n is 0 or 1, and Ph′ is a phenyl group in which a number “m” of hydrogen atoms are substituted by R⁵(O)_(n)— groups. [5] A N-sulfonyloxyimide compound having the general formula (3a):

wherein R is selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryl or C₄-C₁₅ hetero-aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkoxy group, and a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryloxy or C₄-C₁₅ hetero-aryloxy group, R¹ is a divalent C₁-C₂₀ organic group which may have a substituent group containing a heteroatom selected from oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur atoms, or R¹ may form at least one cyclic structure with R, X and Y are each independently hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₆ alkyl group, or X and Y may bond together to form a saturated or unsaturated C₆-C₁₂ ring with the carbon atoms to which they are attached, and Z is a single bond, double bond, methylene group or oxygen atom. [6] An oxime sulfonate compound having the general formula (3b):

wherein R is selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryl or C₄-C₁₅ hetero-aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkoxy group, and a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryloxy or C₄-C₁₅ hetero-aryloxy group, R¹ is a divalent C₁-C₂₀ organic group which may have a substituent group containing a heteroatom selected from oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur atoms, or R¹ may form at least one cyclic structure with R, q is 0 or 1, when q is 0, p is a substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryl group, when q is 1, p is a single bond, a substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀ alkylene group or a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ arylene group, EWG is a cyano, trifluoromethyl, perfluoroethyl, perfluoropropyl, 5H-perfluoropentyl, 6H-perfluorohexyl, nitro or methyl group, and when q is 1, two EWG's may bond together to form a ring of 6 carbon atoms with the carbon atoms to which they are attached. [7] A resist composition comprising a base resin, an acid generator, and an organic solvent, said acid generator comprising a photoacid generator which generates a sulfonic acid having formula (1a) as set forth in [1]. [8] The resist composition of [7], wherein said base resin is at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(meth)acrylic acid and derivatives thereof, cycloolefin derivative/maleic anhydride alternating copolymers, copolymers of ternary or more components comprising a cycloolefin derivative, maleic anhydride, and polyacrylic acid or derivatives thereof, cycloolefin derivative/α-trifluoromethyl acrylate derivative copolymers, polynorbornene, ring-opening metathesis polymers, and hydrogenated ring-opening metathesis polymers. [9] The resist composition of [7], wherein said base resin is a polymeric structure containing silicon atoms. [10] The resist composition of [7], wherein said base resin is a polymeric structure containing fluorine atoms. [11] A chemically amplified positive resist composition comprising a base resin as set forth in [8], [9] or [10], a photoacid generator which generates a sulfonic acid having formula (1a) as set forth in [1], and a solvent, wherein said base resin is insoluble or substantially insoluble in a liquid developer, and becomes soluble under the action of the acid. [12] The chemically amplified positive resist composition of [11], further comprising a quencher. [13] The chemically amplified positive resist composition of [11] or [12], further comprising a dissolution inhibitor. [14] A process for forming a pattern comprising the steps of applying the resist composition of any one of [7] to [13] onto a substrate to form a coating, heat treating the coating and exposing it to high-energy radiation having a wavelength of up to 300 nm through a photomask, and optionally heat treating and developing the exposed coating with a developer. [15] The process of [14], wherein the exposing step relies on immersion lithography comprising directing radiation from an ArF excimer laser having a wavelength of 193 nm through a projection lens, with a liquid such as water, glycerin or ethylene glycol intervening between the coated substrate and the projection lens.

BENEFITS OF THE INVENTION

Since the photoacid generators of the invention include a carbonyl group, carboxyl group, carboxylate ester or lactone structure in the sulfonate in addition to an acyloxy or arylcarbonyloxy group at β-position, they are fully compatible with resins and other components in resist compositions and enable to control acid diffusion. The photoacid generators that generate these sulfonic acids perform well without raising problems during the device fabrication process including coating, pre-baking, exposure, post-exposure baking, and developing steps. The dissolution of sulfonic acids in water during the ArF immersion lithography is minimized. The influence of water left on the wafer is minimized, restraining defects from forming. In the disposal of resist-containing waste liquid after the device fabrication, acyloxy or arylcarbonyloxy groups at β-position are hydrolyzable under basic conditions so that the sulfonic acids are transformed into less accumulative compounds of lower molecular weight. In the disposal by combustion, the sulfonic acids are more combustible because of a low degree of fluorine substitution.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the ¹H-NMR/DMSO-d₆ spectrum of PAG-A in Synthesis Example 19.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the ¹⁹F-NMR/DMSO-d₆ spectrum of PAG-A in Synthesis Example 19.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the ¹H-NMR/DMSO-d₆ spectrum of PAG-B in Synthesis Example 20.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the ¹⁹F-NMR/DMSO-d₆ spectrum of PAG-B in Synthesis Example 20.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the ¹H-NMR/DMSO-d₆ spectrum of PAG-C in Synthesis Example 21.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the ¹⁹F-NMR/DMSO-d₆ spectrum of PAG-C in Synthesis Example 21.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the ¹H-NMR/DMSO-d₆ spectrum of PAG-Y in Synthesis Example 43.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the ¹⁹F-NMR/DMSO-d₆ spectrum of PAG-Y in Synthesis Example 43.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the ¹H-NMR/DMSO-d₆ spectrum of PAG-Z1 in Synthesis Example 44.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the ¹⁹F-NMR/DMSO-d₆ spectrum of PAG-Z1 in Synthesis Example 44.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the ¹H-NMR/DMSO-d₆ spectrum of PAG-Z2 in Synthesis Example 45.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the ¹⁹F-NMR/DMSO-d₆ spectrum of PAG-Z2 in Synthesis Example 45.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the ¹H-NMR/DMSO-d₆ spectrum of PAG-Z3 in Synthesis Example 46.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the ¹⁹F-NMR/DMSO-d₆ spectrum of PAG-Z3 in Synthesis Example 46.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the ¹H-NMR/DMSO-d₆ spectrum of PAG-Z4 in Synthesis Example 47.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the ¹⁹F-NMR/DMSO-d₆ spectrum of PAG-Z4 in Synthesis Example 47.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

The notation (Cn-Cm) means a group containing from n to m carbon atoms per group.

Photoacid Generator

The photoacid generators of the invention are compounds, typically sulfonium salts, iodonium salts, oxime sulfonates and sulfonyloxyimides. These compounds are sensitive to high-energy radiation such as UV, deep-UV, electron beam, EUV, x-ray, excimer laser, gamma-ray and synchrotron radiation and generate sulfonic acids having the general formula (1a) in response to high-energy radiation, so that they are useful as photoacid generators in chemically amplified resist compositions. RC(═O)R¹—COOCH(CF₃)CF₂SO₃ ⁻H⁺  (1a) Herein R is a hydroxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryl or C₄-C₁₅ hetero-aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkoxy group, or a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryloxy or C₄-C₁₅ hetero-aryloxy group; R¹ is a divalent C₁-C₂₀ organic group which may have a substituent group containing a heteroatom selected from oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur atoms, or R¹ may form at least one cyclic structure with R.

In formula (1a), R is a hydroxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryl or C₄-C₁₅ hetero-aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkoxy group, or a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryloxy or C₄-C₁₅ hetero-aryloxy group; R¹ is a divalent C₁-C₂₀ organic group which may have a substituent group containing a heteroatom such as an oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur atom, or R¹ may form one or more cyclic structures with R. Suitable substituent groups on the groups represented by R include hydroxyl groups, alkoxy groups, aryloxy groups, fluorine atoms, chlorine atoms, bromine atoms, iodine atoms, carboxyl groups, alkoxycarbonyl groups, amide groups, carbonyl groups, ether-bonding oxygen atoms and the like. Where R is an alkyl group, at least one hydrogen atom thereon may be replaced by an aryl group. Where R is an aryl group, at least one hydrogen atom thereon may be replaced by an alkyl group.

Illustrative examples of the groups represented by R include hydroxyl, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, cyclopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, cyclopentyl, n-hexyl, cyclohexyl, n-octyl, n-decyl, n-dodecyl, 1-adamantyl, 2-adamantyl, bicyclo[2.2.1]hepten-1-yl, 1-adamantanemethyl, 2-adamantanemethyl, phenyl, 4-methoxyphenyl, 4-tert-butylphenyl, 4-biphenyl, 1-naphthyl, 2-naphthyl, 10-anthranyl, 2-furanyl, methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, isopropoxy, cyclopropyloxy, n-butoxy, sec-butoxy, isobutoxy, tert-butoxy, n-pentyloxy, cyclopentyloxy, n-hexyloxy, cyclohexyloxy, n-octyloxy, n-decyloxy, n-dodecyloxy, 1-adamantyloxy, 2-adamantyloxy, bicyclo[2.2.1]hepten-2-yloxy, 1-adamantanemethoxy, 2-adamantanemethoxy, phenoxy, 4-methoxyphenyloxy, 4-tert-butylphenyloxy, 4-biphenyloxy, 1-naphthyloxy, 2-naphthyloxy, 10-anthranyloxy, 2-furanyloxy, 2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy, 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propyloxy, and 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropoxy. Inter alia, hydroxyl, methoxy, cyclohexyloxy and 1-adamantanemethoxy groups are preferred.

R¹ is a divalent C₁-C₂₀ organic group which may have a substituent group containing a heteroatom such as an oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur atom, or R¹ may form a cyclic structure with R. Suitable substituent groups on the groups represented by R¹ include hydroxyl groups, alkoxy groups, aryloxy groups, fluorine atoms, chlorine atoms, bromine atoms, iodine atoms, carboxyl groups, alkoxycarbonyl groups, amide groups, carbonyl groups, ether-bonding oxygen atoms and the like. Illustrative examples of the groups represented by R¹ include methylene, ethylene, 1,3-propylene, 1,2-propylene, isopropylidene, 1,4-butylene, 1,6-hexylene, o-phenylene, m-phenylene, and p-phenylene, as well as those of the structures shown below. In the structural formulae, the broken line denotes a bonding site.

Of these, preference is given to ethylene, 1,3-propylene and those of the structures shown below.

When R and R¹ bond together to form a cyclic structure, exemplary structures are illustrated below.

Illustrative examples of the sulfonic acids of formula (1a) are shown below.

Sulfonium Salt

The sulfonium salt of the invention has the general formula (2): RC(═O)—R¹—COOCH(CF₃)CF₂SO₃ ^(−R) ²R³R⁴S⁺  (2) wherein R is a hydroxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryl or C₄-C₁₅ hetero-aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkoxy group, or a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryloxy or C₄-C₁₅ hetero-aryloxy group; R¹ is a divalent C₁-C₂₀ organic group which may have a substituent group containing a heteroatom such as an oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur atom, or R¹ may form at least one cyclic structure with R; R², R³ and R⁴ are each independently a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl, alkenyl or oxoalkyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₈ aryl, aralkyl or aryloxoalkyl group, or at least two of R², R³ and R⁴ may bond together to form a ring with the sulfur atom.

In formula (2), R and R¹ are as defined and illustrated above. R², R³ and R⁴ are each independently a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl, alkenyl or oxoalkyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₈ aryl, aralkyl or aryloxoalkyl group, or any two or more of R², R³ and R⁴ may bond together to form a ring with the sulfur atom. Suitable alkyl groups include methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, cyclopropylmethyl, 4-methylcyclohexyl, cyclohexylmethyl, norbornyl, and adamantyl. Suitable alkenyl groups include vinyl, allyl, propenyl, butenyl, hexenyl, and cyclohexenyl. Suitable oxoalkyl groups include 2-oxocyclopentyl, 2-oxocyclohexyl, 2-oxopropyl, 2-oxoethyl, 2-cyclopentyl-2-oxoethyl, 2-cyclohexyl-2-oxoethyl, and 2-(4-methylcyclohexyl)-2-oxoethyl. Suitable aryl groups include phenyl, naphthyl, and thienyl; 4-hydroxyphenyl; alkoxyphenyl groups such as 4-methoxyphenyl, 3-methoxyphenyl, 2-methoxyphenyl, 4-ethoxyphenyl, 4-tert-butoxyphenyl, and 3-tert-butoxyphenyl; alkylphenyl groups such as 2-methylphenyl, 3-methylphenyl, 4-methylphenyl, 4-ethylphenyl, 4-tert-butylphenyl, 4-n-butylphenyl, and 2,4-dimethylphenyl; alkylnaphthyl groups such as methylnaphthyl and ethylnaphthyl; alkoxynaphthyl groups such as methoxynaphthyl and ethoxynaphthyl; dialkylnaphthyl groups such as dimethylnaphthyl and diethylnaphthyl; and dialkoxynaphthyl groups such as dimethoxynaphthyl and diethoxynaphthyl. Suitable aralkyl groups include benzyl, 1-phenylethyl and 2-phenylethyl. Suitable aryloxoalkyl groups include 2-aryl-2-oxoethyl groups such as 2-phenyl-2-oxoethyl, 2-(1-naphthyl)-2-oxoethyl, and 2-(2-naphthyl)-2-oxoethyl. When two or more of R², R³ and R⁴ bond together to form a cyclic structure with the sulfur atom, divalent organic groups such as 1,4-butylene and 3-oxa-1,5-pentylene are exemplary of the cyclic structure-forming group. Also included are aryl groups having polymerizable substituent radicals such as acryloyloxy and methacryloyloxy radicals, and examples of such aryl groups are 4-acryloyloxyphenyl, 4-methacryloyloxyphenyl, 4-acryloyloxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl, 4-methacryloyloxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl, 4-vinyloxyphenyl, and 4-vinylphenyl groups.

Illustrative examples of the sulfonium cation include triphenylsulfonium, 4-hydroxyphenyldiphenylsulfonium, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)phenylsulfonium, tris(4-hydroxyphenyl)sulfonium, 4-tert-butoxyphenyldiphenylsulfonium, bis(4-tert-butoxyphenyl)phenylsulfonium, tris(4-tert-butoxyphenyl)sulfonium, 3-tert-butoxyphenyldiphenylsulfonium bis(3-tert-butoxyphenyl)phenylsulfonium, tris(3-tert-butoxyphenyl)sulfonium, 3,4-di-tert-butoxyphenyldiphenylsulfonium, bis(3,4-di-tert-butoxyphenyl)phenylsulfonium, tris(3,4-di-tert-butoxyphenyl)sulfonium, diphenyl(4-thiophenoxyphenyl)sulfonium, 4-tert-butoxycarbonylmethyloxyphenyldiphenylsulfonium, tris(4-tert-butoxycarbonylmethyloxyphenyl)sulfonium, (4-tert-butoxyphenyl)bis(4-dimethylaminophenyl)sulfonium, tris(4-dimethylaminophenyl)sulfonium, 2-naphthyldiphenylsulfonium, (4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)diphenylsulfonium, (4-n-hexyloxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)diphenylsulfonium, dimethyl(2-naphthyl)sulfonium, 4-hydroxyphenyldimethylsulfonium, 4-methoxyphenyldimethylsulfonium, trimethylsulfonium, 2-oxocyclohexylcyclohexylmethylsulfonium, trinaphthylsulfonium, tribenzylsulfonium, diphenylmethylsulfonium, dimethylphenylsulfonium, 2-oxo-2-phenylethylthiacyclopentanium, diphenyl-2-thienylsulfonium, 4-n-butoxynaphthyl-1-thiacyclopentanium, 2-n-butoxynaphthyl-1-thiacyclopentanium, 4-methoxynaphthyl-1-thiacyclopentanium, and 2-methoxynaphthyl-1-thiacyclopentanium. Preferred cations are triphenylsulfonium, 4-tert-butylphenyldiphenylsulfonium, 4-tert-butoxyphenyldiphenylsulfonium, tris(4-tert-butylphenyl)sulfonium, and 4-tert-butoxycarbonylmethyloxyphenyldiphenylsulfonium. Also included are 4-methacryloyloxyphenyldiphenylsulfonium, 4-acryloyloxyphenyldiphenylsulfonium, 4-methacryloyloxyphenyldimethylsulfonium, 4-acryloyloxyphenyldimethylsulfonium, (4-methacryloyloxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)diphenylsulfonium, (4-acryloyloxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)diphenylsulfonium, and the like. For these polymerizable sulfonium cations, reference may be made to JP-A 4-230645 and JP-A 2005-84365. These polymerizable sulfonium salts may be used as a monomer in forming a polymer to be described later.

Another embodiment is a sulfonium salt having the general formula (2a): RC(═O)—R¹—COOCH(CF₃)CF₂SO₃ ⁻(R⁵(O)_(n))_(m)Ph′S⁺Ph₂  (2a) wherein R is a hydroxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryl or C₄-C₁₅ hetero-aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkoxy group, or a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryloxy or C₄-C₁₅ hetero-aryloxy group; R¹ is a divalent C₁-C₂₀ organic group which may have a substituent group containing a heteroatom such as an oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur atom, or R¹ may form at least one cyclic structure with R; R⁵ is a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl or alkenyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₄ aryl group; m is an integer of 1 to 5, n is 0 or 1; Ph is phenyl, and Ph′ is a phenyl group in which a number “m” of hydrogen atoms are substituted by R⁵(O)_(n)— groups.

In formula (2a), R and R¹ are as defined and illustrated above. The substitution position of R⁵—(O)_(n)— group is not particularly limited, but is preferably 4- or 3-position on the phenyl group, and more preferably 4-position. Examples of groups represented by R⁵ include methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, sec-propyl, cyclopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl, cyclopentyl, n-hexyl, cyclohexyl, n-octyl, n-decyl, n-dodecyl, trifluoromethyl, phenyl, 4-methoxyphenyl, and 4-tert-butylphenyl. In the case of n=1, acryloyl, methacryloyl, vinyl, and allyl are exemplary of R⁵. The letter m is an integer of 1 to 5, and preferably 1, and n is 0 (zero) or 1.

Illustrative examples of the sulfonium cation include 4-methylphenyldiphenylsulfonium, 4-ethylphenyldiphenylsulfonium, 4-tert-butylphenyldiphenylsulfonium, 4-cyclohexylphenyldiphenylsulfonium, 4-n-hexylphenyldiphenylsulfonium, 4-n-octylphenyldiphenylsulfonium, 4-methoxyphenyldiphenylsulfonium, 4-ethoxyphenyldiphenylsulfonium, 4-tert-butoxyphenyldiphenylsulfonium, 4-cyclohexyloxyphenyldiphenylsulfonium, 4-n-hexyloxyphenyldiphenylsulfonium, 4-n-octyloxyphenyldiphenylsulfonium, 4-dodecyloxyphenyldiphenylsulfonium, 4-trifluoromethylphenyldiphenylsulfonium, 4-trifluoromethyloxyphenyldiphenylsulfonium, 4-tert-butoxycarbonylmethyloxyphenyldiphenylsulfonium, 4-methacryloyloxyphenyldiphenylsulfonium, 4-acryloyloxyphenyldiphenylsulfonium, (4-n-hexyloxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)diphenylsulfonium, (4-methacryloyloxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)diphenylsulfonium, and (4-acryloyloxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)diphenylsulfonium.

Iodonium Salt

A further embodiment of the invention is a iodonium salt having the general formula (2b): RC(═O)—R¹—COOCH(CF₃)CF₂SO₃ ⁻[(R⁵(O)_(n))_(m)Ph′]₂I⁺  (2b) wherein R is a hydroxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryl or C₄-C₁₅ hetero-aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkoxy group, or a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryloxy or C₄-C₁₅ hetero-aryloxy group; R¹ is a divalent C₁-C₂₀ organic group which may have a substituent group containing a heteroatom selected from oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur atoms, or R¹ may form at least one cyclic structure with R; R⁵ is a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl or alkenyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₄ aryl group; m is an integer of 1 to 5, n is 0 or 1; and Ph′ is as defined above.

In formula (2b), R, R¹, R⁵, n and m are as defined and illustrated above. The substitution position of R⁵—(O)_(n)— group is not particularly limited, but is preferably 4- or 3-position on the phenyl group, and more preferably 4-position.

Illustrative examples of the iodonium cation include bis(4-methylphenyl)iodonium, bis(4-ethylphenyl)iodonium, bis(4-tert-butylphenyl)iodonium, bis(4-(1,1-dimethylpropyl)phenyl)iodonium, 4-methoxyphenylphenyliodonium, 4-tert-butoxyphenylphenyliodonium, 4-acryloyloxyphenylphenyliodonium, and 4-methacryloyloxyphenylphenyliodonium, with the bis(4-tert-butylphenyl)iodonium being preferred.

N-Sulfonyloxyimide

A further embodiment of the invention is a N-sulfonyloxyimide compound having the general formula (3a):

wherein R is a hydroxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryl or C₄-C₁₅ hetero-aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkoxy group, or a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryloxy or C₄-C₁₅ hetero-aryloxy group; R¹ is a divalent C₁-C₂₀ organic group which may have a substituent group containing a heteroatom such as an oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur atom, or R¹ may form at least one cyclic structure with R; X and Y are each independently hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₆ alkyl group, or X and Y may bond together to form a saturated or unsaturated C₆-C₁₂ ring with the carbon atoms to which they are attached; and Z is a single bond, double bond, methylene group or oxygen atom.

In formula (3a), R and R¹ are as defined and illustrated above. X and Y are each independently hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₆ alkyl group, or X and Y may bond together to form a saturated or unsaturated C₆-C₁₂ ring with the carbon atoms to which they are attached, and Z is a single bond, double bond, methylene group or oxygen atom. Illustrative examples of the imide skeleton excluding the sulfonate moiety are given below. For the imide skeleton, reference may be made to JP-A 2003-252855.

Oxime Sulfonate

A further embodiment of the invention is an oxime sulfonate compound having the general formula (3b):

wherein R is a hydroxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryl or C₄-C₁₅ hetero-aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkoxy group, or a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryloxy or C₄-C₁₅ hetero-aryloxy group; R¹ is a divalent C₁-C₂₀ organic group which may have a substituent group containing a heteroatom such as an oxygen, nitrogen or sulfur atom, or R¹ may form at least one cyclic structure with R; q is 0 or 1; when q is 0, p is a substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryl group, and when q is 1, p is a single bond, a substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀ alkylene group or a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ arylene group; EWG is a cyano, trifluoromethyl, perfluoroethyl, perfluoropropyl, 5H-perfluoropentyl, 6H-perfluorohexyl, nitro or methyl group, and when q is 1, two EWG's may bond together to form a ring of 6 carbon atoms with the carbon atoms to which they are attached.

In formula (3b), R and R¹ are as defined and illustrated above. When q is equal to 0, p is a substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryl group. When q is equal to 1, p is a single bond, a substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀ alkylene group or a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ arylene group. EWG is a cyano, trifluoromethyl, perfluoroethyl, perfluoropropyl, 5H-perfluoropentyl, 6H-perfluorohexyl, nitro or methyl group. When q is equal to 1, two EWG's may bond together to form a ring of 6 carbon atoms with the carbon atoms to which they are attached. The skeletons of the oxime sulfonates are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,261,738, JP-A 9-95479, JP-A 9-208554, JP-A 9-230588, Japanese Patent No. 2,906,999, JP-A 9-301948, JP-A 2000-314956, JP-A 2001-233842, and International Publication 2004/074242.

Exemplary skeletons of oxime sulfonates excluding the sulfonate moiety are given below.

Described below is how to synthesize the foregoing photoacid generators capable of generating a sulfonic acid of formula (1a).

The synthesis of sulfonium salt having formula (2) as a first example of the photoacid generator starts with triphenylsulfonium 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-hydroxypropanesulfonate, synthesized as will be described later, and an aliphatic carboxylic acid halide or anhydride, aromatic carboxylic acid halide or anhydride, aliphatic dicarboxylic anhydride, or aromatic dicarboxylic anhydride, each having a carboxylate ester or lactone structure. By reacting them under basic conditions, a sulfonium salt having a carboxylate ester or lactone structure or a carbonyl or carboxyl group as represented by formula (2) can be prepared.

The sulfonium and iodonium salts of formulae (2a) and (2b) can be synthesized by the same process as described above.

The synthesis of the imide sulfonate and oxime sulfonate of formulae (3a) and (3b) starts with an imide sulfonate or oxime sulfonate having a 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-hydroxypropanesulfonate moiety and an aliphatic carboxylic acid halide or anhydride, aromatic carboxylic acid halide or anhydride, aliphatic dicarboxylic anhydride, or aromatic dicarboxylic anhydride, each having a carboxylate ester or lactone structure. By reacting them under basic conditions, an imide sulfonate or oxime sulfonate having a carboxylate ester or lactone structure or a carbonyl or carboxyl group can be prepared.

Briefly noted herein is the synthesis of triphenylsulfonium 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-hydroxypropanesulfonate. First, an aliphatic or aromatic carboxylic acid ester of 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropen-2-yl, typically 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropen-2-yl benzoate, which was developed by Nakai et al. using 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol as the starting reactant, is reacted with sodium hydrogen sulfite or sodium sulfite in a solvent such as water or alcohol or a mixture thereof in the presence of a radical initiator such as azobisisobutyronitrile or benzoyl peroxide, forming a corresponding 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-acyloxypropanesulfonic acid salt or 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-arenecarbonyloxypropanesulfonic acid salt. This salt is ion-exchanged with a suitable sulfonium salt, forming triphenylsulfonium 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-acyloxypropanesulfonate or triphenylsulfonium 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-arenecarbonyloxypropanesulfonate. The carboxylate moiety of the sulfonate is then subjected to hydrolysis with the aid of an alkali such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, or solvolysis with the aid of an alcohol and base, yielding the target compound, triphenylsulfonium 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-hydroxypropanesulfonate.

Salts of sulfonium other than triphenylsulfonium and iodonium may be similarly synthesized.

The synthesis of an imide sulfonate or oxime sulfonate having a 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-hydroxypropanesulfonate moiety is as follows.

First, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-acyloxypropanesulfonate salt or 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-arenecarbonyloxypropanesulfonate salt is reacted with a chlorinating agent such as thionyl chloride, phosphorus oxychloride or phosphorus pentachloride to form a corresponding sulfonyl chloride or sulfonic acid anhydride. This is further reacted with N-hydroxydicarboxylimide or oxime in a conventional way, forming 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-acyloxypropanesulfonate or 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-arenecarbonyloxypropanesulfonate. This is followed by hydrolysis of the acyloxy or arenecarbonyloxy group, forming the desired intermediate, imide sulfonate or oxime sulfonate having a 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-hydroxypropanesulfonate moiety.

The starting sulfonium and iodonium salts can be synthesized in accordance with the teachings of The Chemistry of Sulfonium Group Part 1, John-Wiley & Sons (1981), Advanced Photochemistry, Vol. 17, John-Wiley & Sons (1992), J. Org. Chem., 53, 5571-5573, 1988, JP-A 8-311018, JP-A 9-15848, JP-A 2001-122850, JP-A 7-25846, JP-A 2001-181221, JP-A 2002-193887, and JP-A 2002-193925. The onium cation having an acryloyloxy or methacryloyloxy group as the polymerizable substituent group can be synthesized by reacting (currently available) hydroxyphenyldiphenylsulfonium halide with acryloyl chloride or methacryloyl chloride under basic conditions according to the methods described in JP-A 4-230645 and JP-A 2005-84365.

For the synthesis of imide sulfonate or oxime sulfonate, reference should be made to the above-cited JP-A 2003-252855, U.S. Pat. No. 6,261,738, JP-A 9-95479, JP-A 9-208554, JP-A 9-230588, Japanese Patent No. 2,906,999, JP-A 9-301948, JP-A 2000-314956, JP-A 2001-233842, and International Publication 2004-074242.

As described above, a first embodiment of the present invention provides a photoacid generator for chemically amplified resist compositions which generates a sulfonic acid having formula (1a) upon exposure to high-energy radiation. A second embodiment of the present invention provides a sulfonium salt, iodonium salt, dicarboxylimide sulfonate, and oxime sulfonate serving as photoacid generators in chemically amplified resist compositions. A third embodiment of the present invention provides a resist composition comprising a photoacid generator which generates a sulfonic acid having formula (1a) upon exposure to high-energy radiation and a resin which changes its solubility in an alkaline developer liquid under the action of acid.

The resist composition of the invention is typically embodied as

(i) a chemically amplified positive resist composition comprising

(A) a photoacid generator which generates a sulfonic acid having formula (1a) upon exposure to high-energy radiation,

(B) an organic solvent,

(C) a base resin which changes its solubility in an alkaline developer liquid under the action of acid, and

one or more optional components including (D) a quencher, (E) a photoacid generator other than (A), (F) an organic acid derivative and/or fluorinated alcohol, and (G) a dissolution inhibitor having a weight average molecular weight of up to 3,000; and

(ii) a chemically amplified negative resist composition comprising

(A) a photoacid generator which generates a sulfonic acid having formula (1a) upon exposure to high-energy radiation,

(B) an organic solvent,

(C′) a base resin which is normally alkali soluble, but becomes substantially alkali insoluble under the action of a crosslinker,

(H) a crosslinker which induces crosslinkage under the action of acid, and

one or more optional components including (D) a quencher and (E) a photoacid generator other than (A).

The PAG which generates a sulfonic acid having formula (1a) as component (A) is as described above. More specifically, it is a compound having formula (2), (2a), (2b), (3a) or (3b). In the resist composition, the PAG is compounded in an amount of 0.1 to 10 parts, more preferably 1 to 7 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the base resin. Note that parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the resin is often abbreviated as “phr”.

Component B

The organic solvent used herein may be any organic solvent in which the base resin, photoacid generator, and other components are soluble. Illustrative, non-limiting, examples of the organic solvent include ketones such as cyclohexanone and methyl amyl ketone; alcohols such as 3-methoxybutanol, 3-methyl-3-methoxybutanol, 1-methoxy-2-propanol, and 1-ethoxy-2-propanol; ethers such as propylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, propylene glycol dimethyl ether, and diethylene glycol dimethyl ether; esters such as propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (PGMEA), propylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate, ethyl lactate, ethyl pyruvate, butyl acetate, methyl 3-methoxypropionate, ethyl 3-ethoxypropionate, tert-butyl acetate, tert-butyl propionate, and propylene glycol mono-tert-butyl ether acetate; and lactones such as γ-butyrolactone. These solvents may be used alone or in combinations of two or more thereof. Of the above organic solvents, it is recommended to use diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, 1-ethoxy-2-propanol, PGMEA, cyclohexanone and mixtures thereof because the photoacid generator is most soluble therein.

An appropriate amount of the organic solvent used is about 200 to 3,000 parts, especially about 400 to 2,000 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the base resin.

Component C

The base resins used as component (C) or (C′) in the inventive compositions include polyhydroxystyrene (PHS), and copolymers of PHS with styrene, (meth)acrylic acid esters or other polymerizable olefinic compounds, for KrF excimer laser resist use; (meth)acrylic acid ester polymers, alternating copolymers of cycloolefin with maleic anhydride and similar copolymers further containing vinyl ethers or (meth)acrylic acid esters, polynorbornene, ring-opening metathesis polymerized cycloolefins, and hydrogenated ring-opening metathesis polymerized cycloolefins, for ArF excimer laser resist use; and fluorinated forms of the foregoing polymers (for both KrF and ArF laser uses) for F₂ excimer laser resist use, although the base resins are not limited to these polymers. Understandably, the sulfonium salts and iodonium salts having polymerizable substituent groups according to the invention may be used as a monomer component in forming the base resin. Typical sulfonium and iodonium salts for such use are combinations of onium cations such as (4-acryloyloxyphenyl)diphenylsulfonium, (4-methacryloyloxyphenyl)diphenylsulfonium, (4-acryloyloxyphenyl)phenyliodonium, and (4-methacryloyloxyphenyl)phenyliodonium cations with anions such as 1-(difluorosulfomethyl)-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl hydrogen cyclohexanedicarboxylate. The base resins may be used alone or in admixture of two or more. In the case of positive resist compositions, it is a common practice to substitute acid labile groups for hydroxyl groups on phenols, carboxyl groups or fluorinated alkyl alcohols for reducing the rate of dissolution in unexposed regions.

The base resins are not limited to the foregoing resins. Use may also be made of the resins described in the following patents.

JP-A 2000-159758 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,280,898 B1

JP-A 2000-186118 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,147,249 A

JP-A 2000-309611 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,284,429 B1

JP-A 2000-327633 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,448,420 B1

JP-A 2000-330283 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,413,695 B1

JP-A 2001-329052 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,509,135 B2

JP-A 2002-202609 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,605,408 B2

JP-A 2002-161116 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,673,515 B2

JP-A 2003-002883 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,517,994 B2

JP-A 2003-020313 corresponding to US 2003/0050398 A1

JP-A 2003-026728

JP-A 2003-034706 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,794,111 B2

JP-A 2003-064134 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,673,518 B2

JP-A 2003-066612 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,830,866

JP-A 2003-113213 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,946,233 B2

JP-A 2003-316027 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,878,508 B2

JP-A 2003-321466 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 7,090,961 B2

JP-A 2004-143153 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 7,132,215 B2

JP-A 2004-124082 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,312,867 B1

JP-A 2004-115486 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 7,037,995 B2

JP-A 2004-062175 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,312,867 B1

In a preferred embodiment, the base resin is at least one polymer selected from among poly(meth)acrylic acid and derivatives thereof, cycloolefin derivative/maleic anhydride alternating copolymers, copolymers of three or more components comprising a cycloolefin derivative, maleic anhydride, and polyacrylic acid or derivatives thereof, cycloolefin derivative/α-trifluoromethyl acrylate copolymers, polynorbornene, ring-opening metathesis polymers, and hydrogenated ring-opening metathesis polymers.

In another preferred embodiment, the base resin is a polymeric structure containing silicon atoms or a polymeric structure containing fluorine atoms. Such polymers include those described in the following patents.

JP-A 2005-008765

JP-A 2004-354417 corresponding to US 2004/0241579 A1

JP-A 2004-352743 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,994,946 B2

JP-A 2004-331854

JP-A 2004-331853

JP-A 2004-292781

JP-A 2004-252405

JP-A 2004-190036 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,309,796 B1

JP-A 2004-115762 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 7,192,684 B2

JP-A 2004-083873 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,919,161 B2

JP-A 2004-059844 corresponding to US 2004/0023176 A1

JP-A 2004-035671 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,902,772 B2

JP-A 2004-083900 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 7,125,943 B2

JP-A 2004-099689

JP-A 2004-145048 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,875,556 B2

JP-A 2004-217533 corresponding to US 2004/0192867 A1

JP-A 2004-231815 corresponding to US 2006/0074263A1

JP-A 2004-244439 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 7,125,641 B2

JP-A 2004-256562

JP-A 2004-307447 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,858,760 B2

JP-A 2004-323422 corresponding to US 2006/0135744 A1

JP-A 2005-029527 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 7,232,917 B2

JP-A 2005-029539 corresponding to US 2006/0217507 A1

Included in the chemically amplified positive resist composition is a base resin having acid labile groups which is normally insoluble or substantially insoluble in developer, but becomes soluble in developer as a result of the acid labile groups being eliminated under the action of acid.

The acid labile groups to be introduced into the base resin may be selected from a variety of such groups, preferably from C₂-C₃₀ acetal groups and tertiary C₄-C₃₀ alkyl groups having the formulae (C1) and (C2), respectively.

In formulae (C1) and (C2), R²⁰¹ and R²⁰² each are hydrogen or a straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group, which may contain a hetero atom such as oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen or fluorine, R²⁰³, R³⁰⁴, R²⁰⁵ and R²⁰⁶ each are a straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group, a C₆-C₁₀ aryl group or a C₇-C₁₀ aralkyl group, which may contain a hetero atom such as oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen or fluorine. A pair of R²⁰¹ and R²⁰², a pair of R²⁰¹ and R²⁰³, a pair of R²⁰² and R²⁰³, a pair of R²⁰⁴ and R²⁰⁵ a pair of R²⁰⁴ and R²⁰⁶, or a pair of R and R²⁰⁶, taken together, may form a ring of 3 to 30 carbon atoms with the carbon atom or the carbon and oxygen atoms to which they are attached.

Illustrative examples of the acetal group of formula (C1) include, but are not limited to, methoxymethyl, ethoxymethyl, propoxymethyl, butoxymethyl, isopropoxymethyl, t-butoxymethyl, 1-methoxyethyl, 1-methoxypropyl, 1-methoxybutyl, 1-ethoxyethyl, 1-ethoxypropyl, 1-ethoxybutyl, 1-propoxyethyl, 1-propoxypropyl, 1-propoxybutyl, 1-cyclopentyloxyethyl, 1-cyclohexyloxyethyl, 2-methoxyisopropyl, 2-ethoxyisopropyl, 1-phenoxyethyl, 1-benzyloxyethyl, 1-phenoxypropyl, 1-benzyloxypropyl, 1-adamantyloxyethyl, 1-adamantyloxypropyl, 2-tetrahydrofuryl, 2-tetrahydro-2H-pyranyl, 1-(2-cyclohexanecarbonyloxyethoxy)ethyl, 1-(2-cyclohexanecarbonyloxyethoxy)propyl, 1-[2-(1-adamantylcarbonyloxy)ethoxy]ethyl, and 1-[2-(1-adamantylcarbonyloxy)ethoxy]propyl.

Illustrative examples of the tertiary alkyl group of formula (C2) include, but are not limited to, t-butyl, t-pentyl, 1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl, 1,1-diethylpropyl, 1,1,2-trimethylpropyl, 1-adamantyl-1-methylethyl, 1-methyl-1-(2-norbornyl)ethyl, 1-methyl-1-(tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)ethyl, 1-methyl-1-(7-oxanorbornan-2-yl)ethyl, 1-methylcyclopentyl, 1-ethylcyclopentyl, 1-propylcyclopentyl, 1-cyclopentylcyclopentyl, 1-cyclohexylcyclopentyl, 1-(2-tetrahydrofuryl)cyclopentyl, 1-(7-oxanorbornan-2-yl)cyclopentyl, 1-methylcyclohexyl, 1-ethylcyclohexyl, 1-cyclopentylcyclohexyl, 1-cyclohexylcyclohexyl, 2-methyl-2-norbornyl, 2-ethyl-2-norbornyl, 8-methyl-8-tricyclo[5.2.1.0^(2,6)]decyl, 8-ethyl-8-tricyclo[5.2.1.0^(2,6)]decyl, 3-methyl-3-tetracyclo[4.4.0.1^(2,5).1^(7,10)]dodecyl, 3-ethyl-3-tetracyclo[4.4.0.1^(2,5).1^(7,10)]dodecyl, 2-methyl-2-adamantyl, 2-ethyl-2-adamantyl, 1-methyl-3-oxo-1-cyclohexyl, 1-methyl-1-(tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)ethyl, 5-hydroxy-2-methyl-2-adamantyl, and 5-hydroxy-2-ethyl-2-adamantyl.

In the base resin, at least 1 mol % of hydrogen atoms of hydroxyl groups may be substituted by acid labile groups of the following general formula (C3a) or (C3b) for crosslinkage between molecules or within a molecule.

Herein, R²⁰⁷ and R²⁰⁸ each are hydrogen or a straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₈ alkyl group, or R²⁰⁷ and R²⁰⁸, taken together, may form a ring with the carbon atom to which they are attached, with the proviso that each of R²⁰⁷ and R²⁰⁸ is a straight or branched C₁-C₈ alkylene group when they form a ring. R²⁰⁹ is a straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₁₀ alkylene group. Letter “a” is an integer of 1 to 7 and “b” is 0 or an integer of 1 to 10. “A” is a (a+1)-valent aliphatic or alicyclic saturated hydrocarbon group, aromatic hydrocarbon group or heterocyclic group of 1 to 50 carbon atoms, which may have an intervening hetero atom and in which the hydrogen atom attached to a carbon atom may be partially replaced by a hydroxyl group, carboxyl group, carbonyl group or fluorine atom. B is —CO—O—, —NHCO—O— or —NHCONH—.

Illustrative examples of the crosslinking acetal linkages represented by formulae (C3a) and (C3b) are given below as (C3-1) through (C3-8), but not limited thereto.

Preferably the base resin has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 2,000 to 100,000, as measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) versus polystyrene standards.

With Mw below 2,000, film formation and resolution may become poor. With Mw beyond 100,000, resolution may become poor or foreign matter may generate during pattern formation.

In the base resin, the proportion (on a molar basis) of acid labile group-containing monomer units relative to the other monomer units (constituent units) is typically in a range of 10 to 70%, preferably 20 to 60%, in case intended for ArF excimer laser resist compositions; and typically in a range of 10 to 50%, preferably 20 to 40%, in case intended for KrF excimer laser resist compositions.

The monomer units other than the acid labile group-containing monomer units are preferably monomer units containing polar groups such as alcohols, fluorinated alcohols, and ether, lactone, ester, acid anhydride, and carboxylic acid in the case of the base resins for ArF excimer laser resist compositions. The base resins for KrF excimer laser resist compositions may comprise units of styrene, indene and 4-acetoxystyrene in addition to 4-hydroxystyrene units having no acid labile groups incorporated. The monomer units to be incorporated may be of one type or of two or more different types.

Component D

The quencher used as component (D) is preferably a compound capable of suppressing the rate of diffusion when the acid generated by the photoacid generator diffuses within the resist film. The inclusion of quencher facilitates to adjust the resist sensitivity and holds down the rate of acid diffusion within the resist film, resulting in better resolution. In addition, it suppresses changes in sensitivity following exposure and reduces substrate and environment dependence, as well as improving the exposure latitude and the pattern profile.

Suitable quenchers include primary, secondary, and tertiary aliphatic amines, mixed amines, aromatic amines, heterocyclic amines, nitrogen-containing compounds with carboxyl group, nitrogen-containing compounds with sulfonyl group, nitrogen-containing compounds with hydroxyl group, nitrogen-containing compounds with hydroxyphenyl group, alcoholic nitrogen-containing compounds, amide derivatives, imide derivatives, carbamate derivatives, and ammonium salts.

Examples of suitable primary aliphatic amines include ammonia, methylamine, ethylamine, n-propylamine, isopropylamine, n-butylamine, isobutylamine, sec-butylamine, tert-butylamine, pentylamine, tert-amylamine, cyclopentylamine, hexylamine, cyclohexylamine, heptylamine, octylamine, nonylamine, decylamine, dodecylamine, cetylamine, methylenediamine, ethylenediamine, and tetraethylenepentamine. Examples of suitable secondary aliphatic amines include dimethylamine, diethylamine, di-n-propylamine, diisopropylamine, di-n-butylamine, diisobutylamine, di-sec-butylamine, dipentylamine, dicyclopentylamine, dihexylamine, dicyclohexylamine, diheptylamine, dioctylamine, dinonylamine, didecylamine, didodecylamine, dicetylamine, N,N-dimethylmethylenediamine, N,N-dimethylethylenediamine, and N,N-dimethyltetraethylenepentamine. Examples of suitable tertiary aliphatic amines include trimethylamine, triethylamine, tri-n-propylamine, triisopropylamine, tri-n-butylamine, triisobutylamine, tri-sec-butylamine, tripentylamine, tricyclopentylamine, trihexylamine, tricyclohexylamine, triheptylamine, trioctylamine, trinonylamine, tridecylamine, tridodecylamine, tricetylamine, N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylmethylenediamine, N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine, and N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyltetraethylenepentamine.

Examples of suitable mixed amines include dimethylethylamine, methylethylpropylamine, benzylamine, phenethylamine, and benzyldimethylamine. Examples of suitable aromatic and heterocyclic amines include aniline derivatives (e.g., aniline, N-methylaniline, N-ethylaniline, N-propylaniline, N,N-dimethylaniline, N,N-bis(hydroxyethyl)aniline, 2-methylaniline, 3-methylaniline, 4-methylaniline, ethylaniline, propylaniline, dimethylaniline, 2,6-diisopropylaniline, trimethylaniline, 2-nitroaniline, 3-nitroaniline, 4-nitroaniline, 2,4-dinitroaniline, 2,6-dinitroaniline, 3,5-dinitroaniline, and N,N-dimethyltoluidine), diphenyl(p-tolyl)amine, methyldiphenylamine, triphenylamine, phenylenediamine, naphthylamine, diaminonaphthalene, pyrrole derivatives (e.g., pyrrole, 2H-pyrrole, 1-methylpyrrole, 2,4-dimethylpyrrole, 2,5-dimethylpyrrole, and N-methylpyrrole), oxazole derivatives (e.g., oxazole and isooxazole), thiazole derivatives (e.g., thiazole and isothiazole), imidazole derivatives (e.g., imidazole, 4-methylimidazole, and 4-methyl-2-phenylimidazole), pyrazole derivatives, furazane derivatives, pyrroline derivatives (e.g., pyrroline and 2-methyl-1-pyrroline), pyrrolidine derivatives (e.g., pyrrolidine, N-methylpyrrolidine, pyrrolidinone, and N-methylpyrrolidone), imidazoline derivatives, imidazolidine derivatives, pyridine derivatives (e.g., pyridine, methylpyridine, ethylpyridine, propylpyridine, butylpyridine, 4-(1-butylpentyl)pyridine, dimethylpyridine, trimethylpyridine, triethylpyridine, phenylpyridine, 3-methyl-2-phenylpyridine, 4-tert-butylpyridine, diphenylpyridine, benzylpyridine, methoxypyridine, butoxypyridine, dimethoxypyridine, 1-methyl-2-pyridone, 4-pyrrolidinopyridine, 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridine, 2-(1-ethylpropyl)pyridine, aminopyridine, and dimethylaminopyridine), pyridazine derivatives, pyrimidine derivatives, pyrazine derivatives, pyrazoline derivatives, pyrazolidine derivatives, piperidine derivatives, piperazine derivatives, morpholine derivatives, indole derivatives, isoindole derivatives, 1H-indazole derivatives, indoline derivatives, quinoline derivatives (e.g., quinoline and 3-quinolinecarbonitrile), isoquinoline derivatives, cinnoline derivatives, quinazoline derivatives, quinoxaline derivatives, phthalazine derivatives, purine derivatives, pteridine derivatives, carbazole derivatives, phenanthridine derivatives, acridine derivatives, phenazine derivatives, 1,10-phenanthroline derivatives, adenine derivatives, adenosine derivatives, guanine derivatives, guanosine derivatives, uracil derivatives, and uridine derivatives.

Examples of suitable nitrogen-containing compounds with carboxyl group include aminobenzoic acid, indolecarboxylic acid, and amino acid derivatives (e.g. nicotinic acid, alanine, alginine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, glycylleucine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, lysine, 3-aminopyrazine-2-carboxylic acid, and methoxyalanine). Suitable nitrogen-containing compounds with sulfonyl group include 3-pyridinesulfonic acid and pyridinium p-toluenesulfonate. Examples of suitable nitrogen-containing compounds with hydroxyl group, nitrogen-containing compounds with hydroxyphenyl group, and alcoholic nitrogen-containing compounds include 2-hydroxypyridine, aminocresol, 2,4-quinolinediol, 3-indolemethanol hydrate, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, N-ethyldiethanolamine, N,N-diethylethanolamine, triisopropanolamine, 2,2′-iminodiethanol, 2-aminoethanol, 3-amino-1-propanol, 4-amino-1-butanol, 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)morpholine, 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)pyridine, 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine, 1-[2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethyl]piperazine, piperidine ethanol, 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)pyrrolidine, 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-pyrrolidinone, 3-piperidino-1,2-propanediol, 3-pyrrolidino-1,2-propanediol, 8-hydroxyjulolidine, 3-quinuclidinol, 3-tropanol, 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidine ethanol, 1-aziridine ethanol, N-(2-hydroxyethyl)phthalimide, and N-(2-hydroxyethyl)isonicotinamide.

Examples of suitable amide derivatives include formamide, N-methylformamide, N,N-dimethylformamide, acetamide, N-methylacetamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, propionamide, and benzamide. Suitable imide derivatives include phthalimide, succinimide, and maleimide. Suitable carbamate derivatives include N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-N,N-dicyclohexylamine, N-tert-butoxycarbonylbenzimidazole, and oxazolidinone. Suitable ammonium salts include pyridinium p-toluenesulfonate, triethylammonium p-toluenesulfonate, trioctylammonium p-toluenesulfonate, triethylammonium 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzenesulfonate, trioctylammonium 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzenesulfonate, triethylammonium camphorsulfonate, trioctylammonium camphorsulfonate, tetramethylammonium hydroxide, tetraethylammonium hydroxide, tetrabutylammonium hydroxide, benzyltrimethylammonium hydroxide, tetramethylammonium p-toluenesulfonate, tetrabutylammonium p-toluenesulfonate, benzyltrimethylammonium p-toluenesulfonate, tetramethylammonium camphorsulfonate, tetrabutylammonium camphorsulfonate, benzyltrimethylammonium camphorsulfonate, tetramethylammonium 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzenesulfonate, tetrabutylammonium 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzenesulfonate, benzyltrimethylammonium 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzenesulfonate, tetramethylammonium acetate, tetrabutylammonium acetate, benzyltrimethylammonium acetate, tetramethylammonium benzoate, tetrabutylammonium benzoate, and benzyltrimethylammonium benzoate.

In addition, amine compounds of the following general formula (Am-1) may also be included alone or in admixture. N(Rx)_(k)(Ry)_(3-k)  (Am-1) In the formula, k is equal to 1, 2 or 3. The side chain Rx is independently selected from groups of the following general formulas (Rx-1) to (Rx-3). The side chain Ry is independently hydrogen or a straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group in which some or all hydrogen atoms may be substituted by fluorine atoms and which may contain an ether or hydroxyl group. Two or three Rx may bond together to form a ring.

In the formulas, R³⁰¹, R³⁰³ and R³⁰⁶ are independently straight or branched C₁-C₄ alkylene groups; R³⁰² and R³⁰⁵ are independently hydrogen or straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl groups in which some or all hydrogen atoms may be substituted by fluorine atoms and which may contain at least one hydroxyl group, ether group, ester group or lactone ring; R³⁰⁴ is a single bond or a straight or branched C₁-C₄ alkylene group; R³⁰⁷ is a straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group in which some or all hydrogen atoms may be substituted by fluorine atoms and which may contain at least one hydroxyl group, ether group, ester group or lactone ring.

Illustrative examples of the compounds of formula (Am-1) include, but are not limited to, tris(2-methoxymethoxyethyl)amine, tris{2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl}amine, tris{2-(2-methoxyethoxymethoxy)ethyl}amine, tris{2-(1-methoxyethoxy)ethyl}amine, tris{2-(1-ethoxyethoxy)ethyl}amine, tris{2-(1-ethoxypropoxy)ethyl}amine, tris[2-{2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)ethoxy}ethyl]amine, 4,7,13,16,21,24-hexaoxa-1,10-diazabicyclo[8.8.8]hexacosane, 4,7,13,18-tetraoxa-1,10-diazabicyclo[8.5.5]eicosane, 1,4,10,13-tetraoxa-7,16-diazabicyclooctadecane, 1-aza-12-crown-4, 1-aza-15-crown-5, 1-aza-18-crown-6, tris(2-formyloxyethyl)amine, tris(2-acetoxyethyl)amine, tris(2-propionyloxyethyl)amine, tris(2-butyryloxyethyl)amine, tris(2-isobutyryloxyethyl)amine, tris(2-valeryloxyethyl)amine, tris(2-pivaloyloxyethyl)amine, N,N-bis(2-acetoxyethyl)-2-(acetoxyacetoxy)ethylamine, tris(2-methoxycarbonyloxyethyl)amine, tris(2-tert-butoxycarbonyloxyethyl)amine, tris[2-(2-oxopropoxy)ethyl]amine, tris[2-(methoxycarbonylmethyl)oxyethyl]amine, tris[2-(tert-butoxycarbonylmethyloxy)ethyl]amine, tris[2-(cyclohexyloxycarbonylmethyloxy)ethyl]amine, tris(2-methoxycarbonylethyl)amine, tris(2-ethoxycarbonylethyl)amine, N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-(methoxycarbonyl)ethylamine, N,N-bis(2-acetoxyethyl)-2-(methoxycarbonyl)ethylamine, N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-(ethoxycarbonyl)ethylamine, N,N-bis(2-acetoxyethyl)-2-(ethoxycarbonyl)ethylamine, N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-(2-methoxyethoxycarbonyl)ethylamine, N,N-bis(2-acetoxyethyl)-2-(2-methoxyethoxycarbonyl)ethylamine, N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-(2-hydroxyethoxycarbonyl)ethylamine, N,N-bis(2-acetoxyethyl)-2-(2-acetoxyethoxycarbonyl)ethylamine, N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-[(methoxycarbonyl)methoxycarbonyl]-ethylamine, N,N-bis(2-acetoxyethyl)-2-[(methoxycarbonyl)methoxycarbonyl]-ethylamine, N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-(2-oxopropoxycarbonyl)ethylamine, N,N-bis(2-acetoxyethyl)-2-(2-oxopropoxycarbonyl)ethylamine, N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-(tetrahydrofurfuryloxycarbonyl)ethylamine, N,N-bis(2-acetoxyethyl)-2-(tetrahydrofurfuryloxycarbonyl)ethylamine, N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-[(2-oxotetrahydrofuran-3-yl)oxycarbonyl]ethylamine, N,N-bis(2-acetoxyethyl)-2-[(2-oxotetrahydrofuran-3-yl)oxycarbonyl]ethylamine, N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-(4-hydroxybutoxycarbonyl)ethylamine, N,N-bis(2-formyloxyethyl)-2-(4-formyloxybutoxycarbonyl)ethylamine, N,N-bis(2-formyloxyethyl)-2-(2-formyloxyethoxycarbonyl)ethylamine, N,N-bis(2-methoxyethyl)-2-(methoxycarbonyl)ethylamine, N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-bis[2-(methoxycarbonyl)ethyl]amine, N-(2-acetoxyethyl)-bis[2-(methoxycarbonyl)ethyl]amine, N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-bis[2-(ethoxycarbonyl)ethyl]amine, N-(2-acetoxyethyl)-bis[2-(ethoxycarbonyl)ethyl]amine, N-(3-hydroxy-1-propyl)-bis[2-(methoxycarbonyl)ethyl]amine, N-(3-acetoxy-1-propyl)-bis[2-(methoxycarbonyl)ethyl]amine, N-(2-methoxyethyl)-bis[2-(methoxycarbonyl)ethyl]amine, N-butylbis[2-(methoxycarbonyl)ethyl]amine, N-butylbis[2-(2-methoxyethoxycarbonyl)ethyl]amine, N-methylbis(2-acetoxyethyl)amine, N-ethylbis(2-acetoxyethyl)amine, N-methylbis(2-pivaloyloxyethyl)amine, N-ethylbis[2-(methoxycarbonyloxy)ethyl]amine, N-ethylbis[2-(tert-butoxycarbonyloxy)ethyl]amine, tris(methoxycarbonylmethyl)amine, tris(ethoxycarbonylmethyl)amine, N-butylbis(methoxycarbonylmethyl)amine, N-hexylbis(methoxycarbonylmethyl)amine, and β-(diethylamino)-δ-valerolactone.

Also useful are one or more of cyclic structure-bearing amine compounds having the following general formula (Am-2).

Herein Rx is as defined above, and R³⁰⁸ is a straight or branched C₂-C₂₀ alkylene group in which some or all hydrogen atoms may be substituted by fluorine atoms and which may contain one or more carbonyl, ether, ester or sulfide groups.

Illustrative examples of the cyclic structure-bearing amine compounds having formula (Am-2) include 1-[2-(methoxymethoxy)ethyl]pyrrolidine, 1-[2-(methoxymethoxy)ethyl]piperidine, 4-[2-(methoxymethoxy)ethyl]morpholine, 1-[2-[(2-methoxyethoxy)methoxy]ethyl]pyrrolidine, 1-[2-[(2-methoxyethoxy)methoxy]ethyl]piperidine, 4-[2-[(2-methoxyethoxy)methoxy]ethyl]morpholine, 2-[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy]ethylmorpholine, 2-[2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethoxy]ethylmorpholine, 2-{2-[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy]ethoxy}ethylmorpholine, 2-{2-[2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethoxy]ethoxy}ethylmorpholine, 2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)ethyl acetate, 2-piperidinoethyl acetate, 2-morpholinoethyl acetate, 2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)ethyl formate, 2-piperidinoethyl propionate, 2-morpholinoethyl acetoxyacetate, 2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)ethyl methoxyacetate, 4-[2-(methoxycarbonyloxy)ethyl]morpholine, 1-[2-(t-butoxycarbonyloxy)ethyl]piperidine, 4-[2-(2-methoxyethoxycarbonyloxy)ethyl]morpholine, methyl 3-(1-pyrrolidinyl)propionate, methyl 3-piperidinopropionate, methyl 3-morpholinopropionate, methyl 3-(thiomorpholino)propionate, methyl 2-methyl-3-(1-pyrrolidinyl)propionate, ethyl 3-morpholinopropionate, methoxycarbonylmethyl 3-piperidinopropionate, 2-hydroxyethyl 3-(1-pyrrolidinyl)propionate, 2-acetoxyethyl 3-morpholinopropionate, 2-oxotetrahydrofuran-3-yl 3-(1-pyrrolidinyl)propionate, tetrahydrofurfuryl 3-morpholinopropionate, glycidyl 3-piperidinopropionate, 2-methoxyethyl 3-morpholinopropionate, 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl 3-(1-pyrrolidinyl)propionate, butyl 3-morpholinopropionate, cyclohexyl 3-piperidinopropionate, α-(1-pyrrolidinyl)methyl-γ-butyrolactone, β-piperidino-γ-butyrolactone, β-morpholino-δ-valerolactone, methyl 1-pyrrolidinylacetate, methyl piperidinoacetate, methyl morpholinoacetate, methyl thiomorpholinoacetate, ethyl 1-pyrrolidinylacetate, 2-methoxyethyl morpholinoacetate, 2-morpholinoethyl 2-methoxyacetate, 2-morpholinoethyl 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)acetate, 2-morpholinoethyl 2-[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy]acetate, 2-morpholinoethyl hexanoate, 2-morpholinoethyl octanoate, 2-morpholinoethyl decanoate, 2-morpholinoethyl laurate, 2-morpholinoethyl myristate, 2-morpholinoethyl palmitate, 2-morpholinoethyl stearate, 2-morpholinoethyl cyclohexanecarboxylate, and 2-morpholinoethyl adamantanecarboxylate.

Also, one or more of cyano-bearing amine compounds having the following general formulae (Am-3) to (Am-6) may be added.

Herein, Rx, R³⁰⁸ and k are as defined in formula (Am-1), and R³⁰⁹ and R³¹⁰ each are independently a straight or branched C₁-C₄ alkylene group.

Illustrative examples of the cyano-bearing amine compounds having formulae (Am-3) to (Am-6) include 3-(diethylamino)propiononitrile, N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-aminopropiononitrile, N,N-bis(2-acetoxyethyl)-3-aminopropiononitrile, N,N-bis(2-formyloxyethyl)-3-aminopropiononitrile, N,N-bis(2-methoxyethyl)-3-aminopropiononitrile, N,N-bis[2-(methoxymethoxy)ethyl]-3-aminopropiononitrile, methyl N-(2-cyanoethyl)-N-(2-methoxyethyl)-3-aminopropionate, methyl N-(2-cyanoethyl)-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-aminopropionate, methyl N-(2-acetoxyethyl)-N-(2-cyanoethyl)-3-aminopropionate, N-(2-cyanoethyl)-N-ethyl-3-aminopropiononitrile, N-(2-cyanoethyl)-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-aminopropiononitrile, N-(2-acetoxyethyl)-N-(2-cyanoethyl)-3-aminopropiononitrile, N-(2-cyanoethyl)-N-(2-formyloxyethyl)-3-aminopropiononitrile, N-(2-cyanoethyl)-N-(2-methoxyethyl)-3-aminopropiononitrile, N-(2-cyanoethyl)-N-[2-(methoxymethoxy)ethyl]-3-aminopropiononitrile, N-(2-cyanoethyl)-N-(3-hydroxy-1-propyl)-3-aminopropiononitrile, N-(3-acetoxy-1-propyl)-N-(2-cyanoethyl)-3-aminopropiononitrile, N-(2-cyanoethyl)-N-(3-formyloxy-1-propyl)-3-aminopropiononitrile, N-(2-cyanoethyl)-N-tetrahydrofurfuryl-3-aminopropiononitrile, N,N-bis(2-cyanoethyl)-3-aminopropiononitrile, diethylaminoacetonitrile, N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)aminoacetonitrile, N,N-bis(2-acetoxyethyl)aminoacetonitrile, N,N-bis(2-formyloxyethyl)aminoacetonitrile, N,N-bis(2-methoxyethyl)aminoacetonitrile, N,N-bis[2-(methoxymethoxy)ethyl]aminoacetonitrile, methyl N-cyanomethyl-N-(2-methoxyethyl)-3-aminopropionate, methyl N-cyanomethyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-aminopropionate, methyl N-(2-acetoxyethyl)-N-cyanomethyl-3-aminopropionate, N-cyanomethyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)aminoacetonitrile, N-(2-acetoxyethyl)-N-(cyanomethyl)aminoacetonitrile, N-cyanomethyl-N-(2-formyloxyethyl)aminoacetonitrile, N-cyanomethyl-N-(2-methoxyethyl)aminoacetonitrile, N-cyanomethyl-N-(2-(methoxymethoxy)ethyl)aminoacetonitrile, N-cyanomethyl-N-(3-hydroxy-1-propyl)aminoacetonitrile, N-(3-acetoxy-1-propyl)-N-(cyanomethyl)aminoacetonitrile, N-cyanomethyl-N-(3-formyloxy-1-propyl)aminoacetonitrile, N,N-bis(cyanomethyl)aminoacetonitrile, 1-pyrrolidinepropiononitrile, 1-piperidinepropiononitrile, 4-morpholinepropiononitrile, 1-pyrrolidineacetonitrile, 1-piperidineacetonitrile, 4-morpholineacetonitrile, cyanomethyl 3-diethylaminopropionate, cyanomethyl N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-aminopropionate, cyanomethyl N,N-bis(2-acetoxyethyl)-3-aminopropionate, cyanomethyl N,N-bis(2-formyloxyethyl)-3-aminopropionate, cyanomethyl N,N-bis(2-methoxyethyl)-3-aminopropionate, cyanomethyl N,N-bis[2-(methoxymethoxy)ethyl]-3-aminopropionate, 2-cyanoethyl 3-diethylaminopropionate, 2-cyanoethyl N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-aminopropionate, 2-cyanoethyl N,N-bis(2-acetoxyethyl)-3-aminopropionate, 2-cyanoethyl N,N-bis(2-formyloxyethyl)-3-aminopropionate, 2-cyanoethyl N,N-bis(2-methoxyethyl)-3-aminopropionate, 2-cyanoethyl N,N-bis[2-(methoxymethoxy)ethyl]-3-aminopropionate, cyanomethyl 1-pyrrolidinepropionate, cyanomethyl 1-piperidinepropionate, cyanomethyl 4-morpholinepropionate, 2-cyanoethyl 1-pyrrolidinepropionate, 2-cyanoethyl 1-piperidinepropionate, and 2-cyanoethyl 4-morpholinepropionate.

Also included are amine compounds having an imidazole structure and a polar functional group, represented by the general formula (Am-7).

Herein, R³¹¹ is a straight, branched or cyclic C₂-C₂₀ alkyl group in which some or all hydrogen atoms may be substituted by fluorine atoms and which has one or more polar functional groups. The polar functional group is selected from among hydroxyl, carbonyl, ester, ether, sulfide, carbonate, cyano and acetal groups and mixtures thereof. R³¹², R³¹³ and R³¹⁴ are each independently a hydrogen atom, a straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₁₀ alkyl group, aryl group or aralkyl group.

Also included are amine compounds having a benzimidazole structure and a polar functional group, represented by the general formula (Am-8).

Herein, R³¹⁵ is a straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group in which some or all hydrogen atoms may be substituted by fluorine atoms and which has one or more polar functional groups. The alkyl group contains as the polar functional group at least one group selected from among ester, acetal and cyano groups, and may additionally contain at least one group selected from among hydroxyl, carbonyl, ether, sulfide and carbonate groups. R³¹⁶ is a hydrogen atom, a straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₁₀ alkyl group, aryl group or aralkyl group.

Further included are heterocyclic nitrogen-containing compounds having a polar functional group, represented by the general formulae (Am-9) and (Am-10).

Herein, J is a nitrogen atom or ≡C—R³²³. K is a nitrogen atom or ≡C—R³²⁴. R³¹⁷ is a straight, branched or cyclic C₂-C₂₀ alkyl group in which some or all hydrogen atoms may be substituted by fluorine atoms and which has one or more polar functional groups, the polar functional group being selected from among hydroxyl, carbonyl, ester, ether, sulfide, carbonate, cyano and acetal groups and mixtures thereof. R³¹⁸, R³¹⁹, R³²⁰ and R³²¹ are each independently a hydrogen atom, a straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₁₀ alkyl group or aryl group, or a pair of R³¹⁸ and R³¹⁹ and a pair of R³²⁰ and R³²¹, taken together, may form a benzene, naphthalene or pyridine ring. R³²² is a hydrogen atom, a straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₁₀ alkyl group or aryl group. R³²³ and R³²⁴ each are a hydrogen atom, a straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₁₀ alkyl group or aryl group, or a pair of R³²³ and R³²⁴, taken together, may form a benzene or naphthalene ring.

Also included are amine compounds having an aromatic carboxylic acid ester structure, represented by the general formulae (Am-11) to (Am-14).

Herein R³²⁵ is a C₆-C₂₀ aryl group or C₄-C₂₀ hetero-aromatic group, in which some or all hydrogen atoms may be replaced by halogen atoms, straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl groups, C₆-C₂₀ aryl groups, C₇-C₂₀ aralkyl groups, C₁-C₁₀ alkoxy groups, C₁-C₁₀ acyloxy groups or C₁-C₁₀ alkylthio groups. R³²⁶ is CO₂R³²⁷, OR³²⁸ or cyano group. R³²⁷ is a C₁-C₁₀ alkyl group, in which some methylene groups may be replaced by oxygen atoms. R³²⁸ is a C₁-C₁₀ alkyl or acyl group, in which some methylene groups may be replaced by oxygen atoms. R³²⁹ is a single bond, methylene, ethylene, sulfur atom or —O(CH₂CH₂O)_(h)— group wherein h is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4. R³³⁰ is hydrogen, methyl, ethyl or phenyl. T is a nitrogen atom or CR³³¹. U is a nitrogen atom or CR³³². V is a nitrogen atom or CR³³³. R³³¹, R³³² and R³³³ are each independently hydrogen, methyl or phenyl. Alternatively, a pair of R³³¹ and R³³² or a pair of R³³² and R³³³ may bond together to form a C₆-C₂₀ aromatic ring or C₂-C₂₀ hetero-aromatic ring.

Further included are amine compounds of 7-oxanorbornane-2-carboxylic ester structure, represented by the general formula (Am-15).

Herein R³³⁴ is hydrogen or a straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₁₀ alkyl group. R³³⁵ and R³³⁶ are each independently a C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group, C₆-C₂₀ aryl group or C₇-C₂₀ aralkyl group, which may contain one or more polar functional groups selected from among ether, carbonyl, ester, alcohol, sulfide, nitrile, amine, imine, and amide and in which some hydrogen atoms may be replaced by halogen atoms. R³³⁵ and R³³⁶, taken together, may form a heterocyclic or hetero-aromatic ring of 2 to 20 carbon atoms.

The quenchers may be used alone or in admixture of two or more. The quencher is preferably formulated in an amount of 0.001 to 2 parts, and especially 0.01 to 1 part by weight, per 100 parts by weight of the base resin. Less than 0.001 phr of the quencher may achieve no addition effect whereas more than 2 phr may lead to too low a sensitivity.

Component E

In one preferred embodiment, the resist composition further contains (E) an auxiliary photoacid generator other than component (A). It may be any compound capable of generating an acid upon exposure to high-energy radiation such as UV, deep UV, electron beam, EUV, x-ray, excimer laser beam, gamma-ray or synchrotron radiation. Suitable auxiliary photoacid generators include sulfonium salts, iodonium salts, sulfonyldiazomethane, N-sulfonyloxydicarboxylmide, O-arylsulfonyloxime and O-alkylsulfonyloxime photoacid generators. Exemplary auxiliary photoacid generators are given below while they may be used alone or in admixture of two or more.

Sulfonium salts are salts of sulfonium cations with sulfonates, bis(substituted alkylsulfonyl)imides and tris(substituted alkylsulfonyl)methides. Exemplary sulfonium cations include triphenylsulfonium, (4-tert-butoxyphenyl)diphenylsulfonium, bis(4-tert-butoxyphenyl)phenylsulfonium, tris(4-tert-butoxyphenyl)sulfonium, (3-tert-butoxyphenyl)diphenylsulfonium, bis(3-tert-butoxyphenyl)phenylsulfonium, tris(3-tert-butoxyphenyl)sulfonium, (3,4-di-tert-butoxyphenyl)diphenylsulfonium, bis(3,4-di-tert-butoxyphenyl)phenylsulfonium, tris(3,4-di-tert-butoxyphenyl)sulfonium, diphenyl(4-thiophenoxyphenyl)sulfonium, (4-tert-butoxycarbonylmethyloxyphenyl)diphenylsulfonium, tris(4-tert-butoxycarbonylmethyloxyphenyl)sulfonium, (4-tert-butoxyphenyl)bis(4-dimethylaminophenyl)sulfonium, tris(4-dimethylaminophenyl)sulfonium, 4-methylphenyldiphenylsulfonium, 4-tert-butylphenylsulfonium, bis(4-methylphenyl)phenylsulfonium, bis(4-tert-butylphenyl)phenylsulfonium, tris(4-methylphenyl)sulfonium, tris(4-tert-butylphenyl)sulfonium, tris(phenylmethyl)sulfonium, 2-naphthyldiphenylsulfonium, dimethyl(2-naphthyl)sulfonium, 4-hydroxyphenyldimethylsulfonium, 4-methoxyphenyldimethylsulfonium, trimethylsulfonium, 2-oxocyclohexylcyclohexylmethylsulfonium, trinaphthylsulfonium, tribenzylsulfonium, diphenylmethylsulfonium, dimethylphenylsulfonium, 2-oxopropylthiacyclopentanium, 2-oxobutylthiacyclopentanium, 2-oxo-3,3-dimethylbutylthiacyclopentanium, 2-oxo-2-phenylethylthiacyclopentanium, 4-n-butoxynaphthyl-1-thiacyclopentanium, and 2-n-butoxynaphthyl-1-thiacyclopentanium. Exemplary sulfonates include trifluoromethanesulfonate, pentafluoroethanesulfonate, heptafluoropropanesulfonate, nonafluorobutanesulfonate, tridecafluorohexanesulfonate, perfluoro(4-ethylcyclohexane)sulfonate, heptadecafluorooctanesulfonate, 2,2,2-trifluoroethanesulfonate, pentafluorobenzenesulfonate, 4-(trifluoromethyl)benzenesulfonate, 4-fluorobenzenesulfonate, mesitylenesulfonate, 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzenesulfonate, toluenesulfonate, benzenesulfonate, 4-(p-toluenesulfonyloxy)benzenesulfonate, 6-(p-toluenesulfonyloxy)naphthalene-2-sulfonate, 4-(p-toluenesulfonyloxy)naphthalene-1-sulfonate, 5-(p-toluenesulfonyloxy)naphthalene-1-sulfonate, 8-(p-toluenesulfonyloxy)naphthalene-1-sulfonate, naphthalenesulfonate, camphorsulfonate, octanesulfonate, dodecylbenzenesulfonate, butanesulfonate, methanesulfonate, 1,1-difluoro-2-naphthylethanesulfonate, 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-2-(norbornan-2-yl)ethanesulfonate, 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-2-(tetracyclo[4.4.0.1^(2,5).1^(7,10)]dodec-3-en-8-yl)ethanesulfonate, 2-benzoyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-(4-phenylbenzoyloxy)propanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-pivaloyloxypropanesulfonate, 2-cyclohexanecarbonyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-furoyloxypropanesulfonate, 2-naphthoyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 2-(4-tert-butylbenzoyloxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 2-(1-adamantanecarbonyloxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 2-acetyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-hydroxypropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-tosyloxypropanesulfonate, 1,1-difluoro-2-tosyloxyethanesulfonate, adamantanemethoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, 1-(3-hydroxymethyladamantane)methoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, methoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, 1-(hexahydro-2-oxo-3,5-methano-2H-cyclopenta[b]furan-6-yloxycarbonyl)difluoromethanesulfonate, and 4-oxo-1-adamantyloxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate. Exemplary bis(substituted alkylsulfonyl)imides include bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, bis(pentafluoroethylsulfonyl)imide, bis(heptafluoropropylsulfonyl)imide, and perfluoro(1,3-propylenebissulfonyl)imide.

A typical tris(substituted alkylsulfonyl)methide is tris(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)methide. Sulfonium salts based on combination of the foregoing examples are included.

Iodonium salts are salts of iodonium cations with sulfonates, bis(substituted alkylsulfonyl)imides and tris(substituted alkylsulfonyl)methides. Exemplary iodonium cations include diphenyliodonium, bis(4-tert-butylphenyl)iodonium, 4-tert-butoxyphenylphenyliodonium, and 4-methoxyphenylphenyliodonium. Exemplary sulfonates include trifluoromethanesulfonate, pentafluoroethanesulfonate, nonafluorobutanesulfonate, tridecafluorohexanesulfonate, perfluoro(4-ethylcyclohexane)sulfonate, heptadecafluorooctanesulfonate, 2,2,2-trifluoroethanesulfonate, pentafluorobenzenesulfonate, 4-(trifluoromethyl)benzenesulfonate, 4-fluorobenzenesulfonate, mesitylenesulfonate, 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzenesulfonate, toluenesulfonate, benzenesulfonate, 4-(p-toluenesulfonyloxy)benzenesulfonate, 6-(p-toluenesulfonyloxy)naphthalene-2-sulfonate, 4-(p-toluenesulfonyloxy)naphthalene-1-sulfonate, 5-(p-toluenesulfonyloxy)naphthalene-1-sulfonate, 8-(p-toluenesulfonyloxy)naphthalene-1-sulfonate, naphthalenesulfonate, camphorsulfonate, octanesulfonate, dodecylbenzenesulfonate, butanesulfonate, methanesulfonate, 1,1-difluoro-2-naphthylethanesulfonate, 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-2-(norbornan-2-yl)ethanesulfonate, 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-2-(tetracyclo[4.4.0.1^(2,5).1^(7,10)]dodec-3-en-8-yl)ethanesulfonate, 2-benzoyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-(4-phenylbenzoyloxy)propanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-pivaloyloxypropanesulfonate, 2-cyclohexanecarbonyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-furoyloxypropanesulfonate, 2-naphthoyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 2-(4-tert-butylbenzoyloxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 2-(1-adamantanecarbonyloxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 2-acetyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-hydroxypropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-tosyloxypropanesulfonate, 1,1-difluoro-2-tosyloxyethanesulfonate, adamantanemethoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, 1-(3-hydroxymethyladamantane)methoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, methoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, 1-(hexahydro-2-oxo-3,5-methano-2H-cyclopenta[b]furan-6-yloxycarbonyl)difluoromethanesulfonate, and 4-oxo-1-adamantyloxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate. Exemplary bis(substituted alkylsulfonyl)imides include bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, bis(pentafluoroethylsulfonyl)imide, bis(heptafluoropropylsulfonyl)imide, and perfluoro(1,3-propylenebissulfonyl)imide. A typical tris(substituted alkylsulfonyl)methide is tris(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)methide. Iodonium salts based on combination of the foregoing examples are included.

Exemplary sulfonyldiazomethane compounds include bissulfonyldiazomethane compounds and sulfonylcarbonyldiazomethane compounds such as bis(ethylsulfonyl)diazomethane, bis(1-methylpropylsulfonyl)diazomethane, bis(2-methylpropylsulfonyl)diazomethane, bis(1,1-dimethylethylsulfonyl)diazomethane, bis(cyclohexylsulfonyl)diazomethane, bis(perfluoroisopropylsulfonyl)diazomethane, bis(phenylsulfonyl)diazomethane, bis(4-methylphenylsulfonyl)diazomethane, bis(2,4-dimethylphenylsulfonyl)diazomethane, bis(4-acetyloxyphenylsulfonyl)diazomethane, bis(4-(methanesulfonyloxy)phenylsulfonyl)diazomethane, bis(4-(p-toluenesulfonyloxy)phenylsulfonyl)diazomethane, bis(4-(n-hexyloxy)phenylsulfonyl)diazomethane, bis(2-methyl-4-(n-hexyloxy)phenylsulfonyl)diazomethane, bis(2,5-dimethyl-4-(n-hexyloxy)phenylsulfonyl)diazomethane, bis(3,5-dimethyl-4-(n-hexyloxy)phenylsulfonyl)diazomethane, bis(2-methyl-5-isopropyl-4-(n-hexyloxy)phenylsulfonyl)diazomethane, bis(2-naphthylsulfonyl)diazomethane, 4-methylphenylsulfonylbenzoyldiazomethane, tert-butylcarbonyl-4-methylphenylsulfonyldiazomethane, 2-naphthylsulfonylbenzoyldiazomethane, 4-methylphenylsulfonyl-2-naphthoyldiazomethane, methylsulfonylbenzoyldiazomethane, and tert-butoxycarbonyl-4-methylphenylsulfonyldiazomethane.

N-sulfonyloxyimide photoacid generators include combinations of imide skeletons with sulfonates. Exemplary imide skeletons are succinimide, naphthalenedicarboximide, phthalimide, cyclohexyldicarboximide, 5-norbornene-2,3-dicarboximide, and 7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]-5-heptene-2,3-dicarboximide. Exemplary sulfonates include trifluoromethanesulfonate, pentafluoroethanesulfonate, heptafluoropropanesulfonate, nonafluorobutanesulfonate, tridecafluorohexanesulfonate, perfluoro(4-ethylcyclohexane)sulfonate, heptadecafluorooctanesulfonate, 2,2,2-trifluoroethanesulfonate, pentafluorobenzenesulfonate, 4-(trifluoromethyl)benzenesulfonate, 4-fluorobenzenesulfonate, mesitylenesulfonate, 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzenesulfonate, toluenesulfonate, benzenesulfonate, 4-(p-toluenesulfonyloxy)benzenesulfonate, 6-(p-toluenesulfonyloxy)naphthalene-2-sulfonate, 4-(p-toluenesulfonyloxy)naphthalene-1-sulfonate, 5-(p-toluenesulfonyloxy)naphthalene-1-sulfonate, 8-(p-toluenesulfonyloxy)naphthalene-1-sulfonate, naphthalenesulfonate, camphorsulfonate, octanesulfonate, dodecylbenzenesulfonate, butanesulfonate, methanesulfonate, 1,1-difluoro-2-naphthylethanesulfonate, 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-2-(norbornan-2-yl)ethanesulfonate, 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-2-(tetracyclo[4.4.0.1^(2,5).1^(7,10)]dodec-3-en-8-yl)ethanesulfonate, 2-benzoyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-(4-phenylbenzoyloxy)propanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-pivaloyloxypropanesulfonate, 2-cyclohexanecarbonyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-furoyloxypropanesulfonate, 2-naphthoyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 2-(4-tert-butylbenzoyloxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 2-(1-adamantanecarbonyloxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 2-acetyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-hydroxypropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-tosyloxypropanesulfonate, 1,1-difluoro-2-tosyloxyethanesulfonate, adamantanemethoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, 1-(3-hydroxymethyladamantane)methoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, methoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, 1-(hexahydro-2-oxo-3,5-methano-2H-cyclopenta[b]furan-6-yloxycarbonyl)difluoromethanesulfonate, and 4-oxo-1-adamantyloxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate.

Benzoinsulfonate photoacid generators include benzoin tosylate, benzoin mesylate, and benzoin butanesulfonate.

Pyrogallol trisulfonate photoacid generators include pyrogallol, phloroglucin, catechol, resorcinol, and hydroquinone, in which all the hydroxyl groups are substituted by trifluoromethanesulfonate, pentafluoroethanesulfonate, heptafluoropropanesulfonate, nonafluorobutanesulfonate, tridecafluorohexanesulfonate, perfluoro(4-ethylcyclohexane)sulfonate, heptadecafluorooctanesulfonate, 2,2,2-trifluoroethanesulfonate, pentafluorobenzenesulfonate, 4-(trifluoromethyl)benzenesulfonate, 4-fluorobenzenesulfonate, mesitylenesulfonate, 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzenesulfonate, toluenesulfonate, benzenesulfonate, 4-(p-toluenesulfonyloxy)benzenesulfonate, 6-(p-toluenesulfonyloxy)naphthalene-2-sulfonate, 4-(p-toluenesulfonyloxy)naphthalene-1-sulfonate, 5-(p-toluenesulfonyloxy)naphthalene-1-sulfonate, 8-(p-toluenesulfonyloxy)naphthalene-1-sulfonate, naphthalenesulfonate, camphorsulfonate, octanesulfonate, dodecylbenzenesulfonate, butanesulfonate, methanesulfonate, 1,1-difluoro-2-naphthylethanesulfonate, 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-2-(norbornan-2-yl)ethanesulfonate, 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-2-(tetracyclo[4.4.0.1^(2,5).1^(7,10)]dodec-3-en-8-yl)ethanesulfonate, 2-benzoyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-(4-phenylbenzoyloxy)propanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-pivaloyloxypropanesulfonate, 2-cyclohexanecarbonyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-furoyloxypropanesulfonate, 2-naphthoyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 2-(4-tert-butylbenzoyloxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 2-(1-adamantanecarbonyloxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 2-acetyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-hydroxypropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-tosyloxypropanesulfonate, 1,1-difluoro-2-tosyloxyethanesulfonate, adamantanemethoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, 1-(3-hydroxymethyladamantane)methoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, methoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, 1-(hexahydro-2-oxo-3,5-methano-2H-cyclopenta[b]furan-6-yloxycarbonyl)difluoromethanesulfonate, and 4-oxo-1-adamantyloxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate.

Nitrobenzyl sulfonate photoacid generators include 2,4-dinitrobenzyl sulfonate, 2-nitrobenzyl sulfonate, and 2,6-dinitrobenzyl sulfonate, with exemplary sulfonates including trifluoromethanesulfonate, pentafluoroethanesulfonate, heptafluoropropanesulfonate, nonafluorobutanesulfonate, tridecafluorohexanesulfonate, perfluoro(4-ethylcyclohexane)sulfonate, heptadecafluorooctanesulfonate, 2,2,2-trifluoroethanesulfonate, pentafluorobenzenesulfonate, 4-(trifluoromethyl)benzenesulfonate, 4-fluorobenzenesulfonate, mesitylenesulfonate, 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzenesulfonate, toluenesulfonate, benzenesulfonate, 4-(p-toluenesulfonyloxy)benzenesulfonate, 6-(p-toluenesulfonyloxy)naphthalene-2-sulfonate, 4-(p-toluenesulfonyloxy)naphthalene-1-sulfonate, 5-(p-toluenesulfonyloxy)naphthalene-1-sulfonate, 8-(p-toluenesulfonyloxy)naphthalene-1-sulfonate, camphorsulfonate, octanesulfonate, dodecylbenzenesulfonate, butanesulfonate, methanesulfonate, 1,1-difluoro-2-naphthylethanesulfonate, 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-2-(norbornan-2-yl)ethanesulfonate, 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-2-(tetracyclo[4.4.0.1^(2,5).1^(7,10)]dodec-3-en-8-yl)ethanesulfonate, 2-benzoyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-(4-phenylbenzoyloxy)propanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-pivaloyloxypropanesulfonate, 2-cyclohexanecarbonyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-furoyloxypropanesulfonate, 2-naphthoyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 2-(4-tert-butylbenzoyloxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 2-(1-adamantanecarbonyloxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 2-acetyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-hydroxypropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-tosyloxypropanesulfonate, 1,1-difluoro-2-tosyloxyethanesulfonate, adamantanemethoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, 1-(3-hydroxymethyladamantane)methoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, methoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, 1-(hexahydro-2-oxo-3,5-methano-2H-cyclopenta[b]furan-6-yloxycarbonyl)difluoromethanesulfonate, and 4-oxo-1-adamantyloxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate. Also useful are analogous nitrobenzyl sulfonate compounds in which the nitro group on the benzyl side is substituted by a trifluoromethyl group.

Sulfone photoacid generators include bis(phenylsulfonyl)methane, bis(4-methylphenylsulfonyl)methane, bis(2-naphthylsulfonyl)methane, 2,2-bis(phenylsulfonyl)propane, 2,2-bis(4-methylphenylsulfonyl)propane, 2,2-bis(2-naphthylsulfonyl)propane, 2-methyl-2-(p-toluenesulfonyl)propiophenone, 2-cyclohexylcarbonyl-2-(p-toluenesulfonyl)propane, and 2,4-dimethyl-2-(p-toluenesulfonyl)pentan-3-one.

Suitable O-arylsulfonyloxime compounds and O-alkylsulfonyloxime compounds (oxime sulfonates) include photoacid generators in the form of glyoxime derivatives, oxime sulfonates with a long conjugated system separated by thiophene or cyclohexadiene, oxime sulfonates having an electron withdrawing group such as trifluoromethyl incorporated for increased stability, oxime sulfonates using phenylacetonitrile or substituted acetonitrile derivatives, and bisoxime sulfonates.

Photoacid generators in the form of glyoxime derivatives include bis-O-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-α-dimethylglyoxime, bis-O-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-α-diphenylglyoxime, bis-O-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-α-dicyclohexylglyoxime, bis-O-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-2,3-pentanedioneglyoxime, bis-O-(n-butanesulfonyl)-α-dimethylglyoxime, bis-O-(n-butanesulfonyl)-α-diphenylglyoxime, bis-O-(n-butanesulfonyl)-α-dicyclohexylglyoxime, bis-O-(methanesulfonyl)-α-dimethylglyoxime, bis-O-(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)-α-dimethylglyoxime, bis-O-(2,2,2-trifluoroethanesulfonyl)-α-dimethylglyoxime, bis-O-(10-camphorsulfonyl)-α-dimethylglyoxime, bis-O-(benzenesulfonyl)-α-dimethylglyoxime, bis-O-(p-fluorobenzenesulfonyl)-α-dimethylglyoxime, bis-O-(p-trifluoromethylbenzenesulfonyl)-α-dimethylglyoxime, bis-O-(xylenesulfonyl)-α-dimethylglyoxime, bis-O-(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)-nioxime, bis-O-(2,2,2-trifluoroethanesulfonyl)-nioxime, bis-O-(10-camphorsulfonyl)-nioxime, bis-O-(benzenesulfonyl)-nioxime, bis-O-(4-fluorobenzenesulfonyl)-nioxime, bis-O-(4-trifluoromethylbenzenesulfonyl)-nioxime, and bis-O-(xylenesulfonyl)-nioxime. Also included are compounds of the foregoing skeleton having substituted thereon 2-benzoyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-(4-phenylbenzoyloxy)propanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-pivaloyloxypropanesulfonate, 2-cyclohexanecarbonyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-furoyloxypropanesulfonate, 2-naphthoyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 2-(4-tert-butylbenzoyloxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 2-(1-adamantanecarbonyloxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 2-acetyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-hydroxypropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-tosyloxypropanesulfonate, 1,1-difluoro-2-tosyloxyethanesulfonate, adamantanemethoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, 1-(3-hydroxymethyladamantane)methoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, methoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, 1-(hexahydro-2-oxo-3,5-methano-2H-cyclopenta[b]furan-6-yloxycarbonyl)difluoromethanesulfonate, and 4-oxo-1-adamantyloxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate.

Photoacid generators in the form of oxime sulfonates with a long conjugated system separated by thiophene or cyclohexadiene include (5-(p-toluenesulfonyl)oxyimino-5H-thiophen-2-ylidene)phenylacetonitrile, (5-(10-camphorsulfonyl)oxyimino-5H-thiophen-2-ylidene)phenylacetonitrile, (5-n-octanesulfonyloxyimino-5H-thiophen-2-ylidene)phenylacetonitrile, (5-(p-toluenesulfonyl)oxyimino-5H-thiophen-2-ylidene)(2-methylphenyl)acetonitrile, (5-(10-camphorsulfonyl)oxyimino-5H-thiophen-2-ylidene)(2-methylphenyl)acetonitrile, (5-n-octanesulfonyloxyimino-5H-thiophen-2-ylidene)(2-methylphenyl)acetonitrile, (5-(4-(p-toluenesulfonyloxy)benzenesulfonyl)oxyimino-5H-thiophen-2-ylidene phenylacetonitrile, and (5-(2,5-bis(p-toluenesulfonyloxy)benzenesulfonyl)oxyimino-5H-thiophen-2-ylidene)phenylacetonitrile.

Also included are modified forms of the foregoing compounds having substituted on their skeleton 2-benzoyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-(4-phenylbenzoyloxy)propanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-pivaloyloxypropanesulfonate, 2-cyclohexanecarbonyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-furoyloxypropanesulfonate, 2-naphthoyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 2-(4-tert-butylbenzoyloxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 2-(1-adamantanecarbonyloxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 2-acetyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-hydroxypropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-tosyloxypropanesulfonate, 1,1-difluoro-2-tosyloxyethanesulfonate, adamantanemethoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, 1-(3-hydroxymethyladamantane)methoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, methoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, 1-(hexahydro-2-oxo-3,5-methano-2H-cyclopenta[b]furan-6-yloxycarbonyl)difluoromethanesulfonate, and 4-oxo-1-adamantyloxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate.

Suitable oxime sulfonates having an electron withdrawing group such as trifluoromethyl incorporated for increased stability include 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-phenyl-ethanone O-(methylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-phenyl-ethanone O-(10-camphorsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-phenylethanone O-(4-methoxybenzenesulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-phenylethanone O-(1-naphthylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-phenylethanone O-(2-naphthylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-phenylethanone O-(2,4,6-trimethylphenylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(4-methylphenyl)ethanone O-(10-camphorsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(4-methylphenyl)ethanone O-(methylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(2-methylphenyl)ethanone O-(10-camphorsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)ethanone O-(10-camphorsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)ethanone O-(1-naphthylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-ethanone O-(2-naphthylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)ethanone O-(10-camphorsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)ethanone O-(1-naphthylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)ethanone O-(2-naphthylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethanone O-(methylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(4-methylthiophenyl)-ethanone O-(methylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethanone O-(methylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethanone O-(4-methylphenylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethanone O-(4-methoxyphenylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethanone O-(4-dodecylphenylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethanone O-(octylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(4-thiomethylphenyl)ethanone O-(4-methoxyphenylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(4-thiomethylphenyl)ethanone O-(4-dodecylphenylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(4-thiomethylphenyl)ethanone O-(octylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(4-thiomethylphenyl)ethanone O-(2-naphthylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(2-methylphenyl)ethanone O-(methylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(4-methylphenyl)ethanone O-(phenylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethanone O-(phenylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,3,3,4,4,4-heptafluoro-1-phenylbutanone O-(10-camphorsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(1-naphthyl)ethanone O-(methylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(2-naphthyl)ethanone O-(methylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(4-benzylphenyl)ethanone O-(methylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(4-(phenyl-1,4-dioxa-but-1-yl)phenyl)ethanone O-(methylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(1-naphthyl)ethanone O-(propylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(2-naphthyl)ethanone O-(propylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(4-benzylphenyl)ethanone O-(propylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(4-methylsulfonylphenyl)ethanone O-(propylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(4-methylsulfonyloxyphenyl)ethanone O-(propylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(4-methylcarbonyloxyphenyl)ethanone O-(propylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(6H,7H-5,8-dioxonaphth-2-yl)ethanone O-(propylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(4-methoxycarbonylmethoxyphenyl)ethanone O-(propylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(4-methoxycarbonyl)-(4-amino-1-oxa-pent-1-yl)phenyl)ethanone O-(propylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(3,5-dimethyl-4-ethoxyphenyl)ethanone O-(propylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(4-benzyloxyphenyl)ethanone O-(propylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(2-thiophenyl)ethanone O-(propylsulfonate)oxime, and 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(1-dioxathiophen-2-yl)ethanone O-(propylsulfonate)oxime; 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(4-(3-(4-(2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethanesulfonyloxyimino)ethyl)phenoxy)propoxy)phenyl)ethanone O-(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(4-(3-(4-(2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(1-propanesulfonyloxyimino)ethyl)phenoxy)propoxy)phenyl)ethanone O-(propylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(4-(3-(4-(2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(1-butanesulfonyloxyimino)ethyl)phenoxy)propoxy)phenyl)ethanone O-(butylsulfonyl)oxime, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(4-(3-(4-(2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(4-(4-methylphenylsulfonyloxy)phenylsulfonyloxyimino)ethyl)phenoxy)propoxy)phenyl)ethanone O-(4-(4-methylphenylsulfonyloxy)phenylsulfonyl)oxime, and 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(4-(3-(4-(2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(2,5-bis(4-methylphenylsulfonyloxy)benzenesulfonyloxy)phenylsulfonyloxyimino)ethyl)phenoxy)propoxy)phenyl)ethanone O-(2,5-bis(4-methylphenylsulfonyloxy)benzenesulfonyloxy)phenylsulfonyl)oxime. Also included are modified forms of the foregoing compounds having substituted on their skeleton 2-benzoyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-(4-phenylbenzoyloxy)propanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-pivaloyloxypropanesulfonate, 2-cyclohexanecarbonyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-furoyloxypropanesulfonate, 2-naphthoyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 2-(4-tert-butylbenzoyloxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 2-(1-adamantanecarbonyloxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 2-acetyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-hydroxypropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-tosyloxypropanesulfonate, 1,1-difluoro-2-tosyloxyethanesulfonate, adamantanemethoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, 1-(3-hydroxymethyladamantane)methoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, methoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, 1-(hexahydro-2-oxo-3,5-methano-2H-cyclopenta[b]furan-6-yloxycarbonyl)difluoromethanesulfonate, and 4-oxo-1-adamantyloxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate.

Also included are oxime sulfonates having the formula (Ox-1):

wherein R⁴⁰¹ is a substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀ haloalkylsulfonyl or halobenzenesulfonyl group, R⁴⁰² is a C₁-C₁₁ haloalkyl group, and Ar⁴⁰¹ is substituted or unsubstituted aromatic or hetero-aromatic group.

Examples include 2-[2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluoro-1-(nonafluorobutylsulfonyloxyimino)pentyl]fluorene, 2-[2,2,3,3,4,4-pentafluoro-1-(nonafluorobutylsulfonyloxyimino)butyl]fluorene, 2-[2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6-decafluoro-1-(nonafluorobutylsulfonyloxyimino)hexyl]fluorene, 2-[2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluoro-1-(nonafluorobutylsulfonyloxyimino)pentyl]-4-biphenyl, 2-[2,2,3,3,4,4-pentafluoro-1-(nonafluorobutylsulfonyloxyimino)butyl]-4-biphenyl, and 2-[2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6-decafluoro-1-(nonafluorobutylsulfonyloxyimino)hexyl]-4-biphenyl. Also included are modified forms of the foregoing compounds having substituted on their skeleton 2-benzoyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-(4-phenylbenzoyloxy)propanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-pivaloyloxypropanesulfonate, 2-cyclohexanecarbonyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-furoyloxypropanesulfonate, 2-naphthoyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 2-(4-tert-butylbenzoyloxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 2-(1-adamantanecarbonyloxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 2-acetyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-hydroxypropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-tosyloxypropanesulfonate, 1,1-difluoro-2-tosyloxyethanesulfonate, adamantanemethoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, 1-(3-hydroxymethyladamantane)methoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, methoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, 1-(hexahydro-2-oxo-3,5-methano-2H-cyclopenta[b]furan-6-yloxycarbonyl)difluoromethanesulfonate, and 4-oxo-1-adamantyloxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate.

Suitable oxime sulfonate generators using substituted acetonitrile derivatives include α-(p-toluenesulfonyloxyimino)-phenylacetonitrile, α-(p-chlorobenzenesulfonyloxyimino)-phenylacetonitrile, α-(4-nitrobenzenesulfonyloxyimino)-phenylacetonitrile, α-(4-nitro-2-trifluoromethylbenzenesulfonyloxyimino)phenylacetonitrile, α-(benzenesulfonyloxyimino)-4-chlorophenylacetonitrile, α-(benzenesulfonyloxyimino)-2,4-dichlorophenylacetonitrile, α-(benzenesulfonyloxyimino)-2,6-dichlorophenylacetonitrile, α-(benzenesulfonyloxyimino)-4-methoxyphenylacetonitrile, α-(2-chlorobenzenesulfonyloxyimino)-4-methoxyphenylacetonitrile, α-(benzenesulfonyloxyimino)-2-thienylacetonitrile, α-(4-dodecylbenzenesulfonyloxyimino)-phenylacetonitrile, α-[(4-toluenesulfonyloxyimino)-4-methoxyphenyl]acetonitrile, α-[(dodecylbenzenesulfonyloxyimino)-4-methoxyphenyl]acetonitrile, α-(tosyloxyimino)-3-thienylacetonitrile, α-(methylsulfonyloxyimino)-1-cyclopentenylacetonitrile, α-(ethylsulfonyloxyimino)-1-cyclopentenylacetonitrile, α-(isopropylsulfonyloxyimino)-1-cyclopentenylacetonitrile, α-(n-butylsulfonyloxyimino)-1-cyclopentenylacetonitrile, α-(ethylsulfonyloxyimino)-1-cyclohexenylacetonitrile, α-(isopropylsulfonyloxyimino)-1-cyclohexenylacetonitrile, and α-(n-butylsulfonyloxyimino)-1-cyclohexenylacetonitrile. Also included are modified forms of the foregoing compounds having substituted on their skeleton 2-benzoyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-(4-phenylbenzoyloxy)propanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-pivaloyloxypropanesulfonate, 2-cyclohexanecarbonyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-furoyloxypropanesulfonate, 2-naphthoyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 2-(4-tert-butylbenzoyloxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 2-(1-adamantanecarbonyloxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 2-acetyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-hydroxypropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-tosyloxypropanesulfonate, 1,1-difluoro-2-tosyloxyethanesulfonate, adamantanemethoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, 1-(3-hydroxymethyladamantane)methoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, methoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, 1-(hexahydro-2-oxo-3,5-methano-2H-cyclopenta[b]furan-6-yloxycarbonyl)difluoromethanesulfonate, and 4-oxo-1-adamantyloxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate.

Suitable bisoxime sulfonates include bis(α-(p-toluenesulfonyloxy)imino)-p-phenylenediacetonitrile, bis(α-(benzenesulfonyloxy)imino)-p-phenylenediacetonitrile, bis(α-(methanesulfonyloxy)imino)-p-phenylenediacetonitrile, bis(α-(butanesulfonyloxy)imino)-p-phenylenediacetonitrile, bis(α-(10-camphorsulfonyloxy)imino)-p-phenylenediacetonitrile, bis(α-(trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy)imino)-p-phenylenediacetonitrile, bis(α-(4-methoxybenzenesulfonyloxy)imino)-p-phenylenediacetonitrile, bis(α-(4-toluenesulfonyloxy)imino)-m-phenylenediacetonitrile, bis(α-(benzenesulfonyloxy)imino)-m-phenylenediacetonitrile, bis(α-(methanesulfonyloxy)imino)-m-phenylenediacetonitrile, bis(α-(butanesulfonyloxy)imino)-m-phenylenediacetonitrile, bis(α-(10-camphorsulfonyloxy)imino)-m-phenylenediacetonitrile, bis(α-(trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy)imino)-m-phenylenediacetonitrile, bis(α-(4-methoxybenzenesulfonyloxy)imino)-m-phenylenediacetonitrile, etc.

Also included are modified forms of the foregoing compounds having substituted on their skeleton 2-benzoyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-(4-phenylbenzoyloxy)propanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-pivaloyloxypropanesulfonate, 2-cyclohexanecarbonyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-furoyloxypropanesulfonate, 2-naphthoyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 2-(4-tert-butylbenzoyloxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 2-(1-adamantanecarbonyloxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 2-acetyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-hydroxypropanesulfonate, 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-tosyloxypropanesulfonate, 1,1-difluoro-2-tosyloxyethanesulfonate, adamantanemethoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, 1-(3-hydroxymethyladamantane)methoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, methoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, 1-(hexahydro-2-oxo-3,5-methano-2H-cyclopenta[b]furan-6-yloxycarbonyl)difluoromethanesulfonate, and 4-oxo-1-adamantyloxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate.

When the photoacid generator (E) is added to the KrF excimer laser resist composition, preference is given to sulfonium salts, bissulfonyldiazomethanes, N-sulfonyloxyimides and oxime-O-sulfonates. Illustrative preferred photoacid generators include triphenylsulfonium p-toluenesulfonate, triphenylsulfonium camphorsulfonate, triphenylsulfonium pentafluorobenzenesulfonate, triphenylsulfonium nonafluorobutanesulfonate, triphenylsulfonium 4-(p-toluenesulfonyloxy)benzenesulfonate, triphenylsulfonium 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzenesulfonate, 4-tert-butoxyphenyldiphenylsulfonium p-toluenesulfonate, 4-tert-butoxyphenyldiphenylsulfonium camphorsulfonate, 4-tert-butoxyphenyldiphenylsulfonium 4-(p-toluenesulfonyloxy)benzenesulfonate, 4-tert-butylphenyldiphenylsulfonium camphorsulfonate, tris(4-methylphenyl)sulfonium camphorsulfonate, tris(4-tert-butylphenyl)sulfonium camphorsulfonate, bis(tert-butylsulfonyl)diazomethane, bis(cyclohexylsulfonyl)diazomethane, bis(2,4-dimethylphenylsulfonyl)diazomethane, bis(4-n-hexyloxyphenylsulfonyl)diazomethane, bis(2-methyl-4-n-hexylbxyphenylsulfonyl)diazomethane, bis(2,5-dimethyl-4-n-hexyloxyphenylsulfonyl)diazomethane, bis(3,5-dimethyl-4-n-hexyloxyphenylsulfonyl)diazomethane, bis(2-methyl-5-isopropyl-4-n-hexyloxy)phenylsulfonyldiazomethane, bis(4-tert-butylphenylsulfonyl)diazomethane, N-camphorsulfonyloxy-5-norbornene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid imide, N-p-toluenesulfonyloxy-5-norbornene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid imide, (5-(10-camphorsulfonyl)oxyimino-5H-thiophen-2-ylidene)(2-methylphenyl)acetonitrile, and (5-(p-toluenesulfonyl)oxyimino-5H-thiophen-2-ylidene)(2-methylphenyl)acetonitrile.

When the photoacid generator (E) is added to the ArF laser resist composition, preference is given to sulfonium salts and oxime-O-sulfonates. Illustrative preferred photoacid generators include triphenylsulfonium trifluoromethanesulfonate, triphenylsulfonium pentafluoroethanesulfonate, triphenylsulfonium heptafluoropropanesulfonate, triphenylsulfonium nonafluorobutanesulfonate, triphenylsulfonium tridecafluorohexanesulfonate, triphenylsulfonium heptadecafluorooctanesulfonate, triphenylsulfonium perfluoro(4-ethylcyclohexane)sulfonate, 4-methylphenyldiphenylsulfonium nonafluorobutanesulfonate, 2-oxo-2-phenylethylthiacyclopentanium nonafluorobutanesulfonate, 4-tert-butylphenyldiphenylsulfonium nonafluorobutanesulfonate, 4-tert-butylphenyldiphenylsulfonium perfluoro(4-ethylcyclohexane)sulfonate, 4-tert-butylphenyldiphenylsulfonium heptafluorooctanesulfonate, triphenylsulfonium 1,1-difluoro-2-naphthylethanesulfonate, triphenylsulfonium 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-2-(norbornan-2-yl)ethanesulfonate, triphenylsulfonium 2-benzoyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, triphenylsulfonium 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-(pivaloyloxy)propanesulfonate, triphenylsulfonium 2-(cyclohexanecarbonyloxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, triphenylsulfonium 2-(2-naphthoyloxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, triphenylsulfonium 2-(1-adamantanecarbonyloxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, triphenylsulfonium 2-hydroxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, triphenylsulfonium adamantanemethoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, triphenylsulfonium 1-(3-hydroxymethyladamantane)methoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, triphenylsulfonium methoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, 4-tert-butylphenyldiphenylsulfonium 2-benzoyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 4-tert-butylphenyldiphenylsulfonium 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-(pivaloyloxy)propanesulfonate, 4-tert-butylphenyldiphenylsulfonium 2-(cyclohexanecarbonyloxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 4-tert-butylphenyldiphenylsulfonium 2-(2-naphthoyloxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 4-tert-butylphenyldiphenylsulfonium 2-(1-adamantanecarbonyloxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 4-tert-butylphenyldiphenylsulfonium 2-hydroxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 4-tert-butylphenyldiphenylsulfonium adamantanemethoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, 4-tert-butylphenyldiphenylsulfonium 1-(3-hydroxymethyladamantane)methoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, 4-tert-butylphenyldiphenylsulfonium methoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, 2-oxo-2-phenylethylthiacyclopentanium 2-benzoyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 2-oxo-2-phenylethylthiacyclopentanium 2-cyclohexanecarbonyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, triphenylsulfonium perfluoro(1,3-propylenebissulfonyl)imide, triphenylsulfonium bis(pentafluoroethylsulfonyl)imide, 2-(2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluoro-1-(nonafluorobutylsulfonyloxyimino)pentyl)fluorene, 2-(2,2,3,3,4,4-pentafluoro-1-(nonafluorobutylsulfonyloxyimino)butyl)fluorene, 2-(2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6-decafluoro-1-(nonafluorobutylsulfonyloxyimino)hexyl)fluorene, 2-(2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluoro-1-(2-(cyclohexanecarbonyloxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonyloxyimino)pentyl)fluorene, 2-(2,2,3,3,4,4-pentafluoro-1-(2-(cyclohexanecaronyloxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonyloxyimino)butyl)fluorene, and 2-(2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6-decafluoro-1-(nonafluorobutylsulfonyloxyimino)hexyl)fluorene.

When the photoacid generator (E) is added to the ArF immersion lithography resist composition, preference is given to sulfonium salts and oxime-O-sulfonates. Illustrative preferred photoacid generators include triphenylsulfonium nonafluorobutanesulfonate, triphenylsulfonium tridecafluorohexanesulfonate, triphenylsulfonium heptadecafluorooctanesulfonate, triphenylsulfonium perfluoro(4-ethylcyclohexane)sulfonate, 4-methylphenyldiphenylsulfonium nonafluorobutanesulfonate, 2-oxo-2-phenylethylthiacyclopentanium nonafluorobutanesulfonate, 4-tert-butylphenyldiphenylsulfonium nonafluorobutanesulfonate, 4-tert-butylphenyldiphenylsulfonium perfluoro(4-ethylcyclohexane)sulfonate, 4-tert-butylphenyldiphenylsulfonium heptafluorooctanesulfonate, triphenylsulfonium 1,1-difluoro-2-naphthylethanesulfonate, triphenylsulfonium 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-2-(norbornan-2-yl)ethanesulfonate, triphenylsulfonium 2-benzoyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, triphenylsulfonium 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-(pivaloyloxy)propanesulfonate, triphenylsulfonium 2-(cyclohexanecarbonyloxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, triphenylsulfonium 2-(2-naphthoyloxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, triphenylsulfonium 2-(1-adamantanecarbonyloxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, triphenylsulfonium 2-hydroxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, triphenylsulfonium adamantanemethoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, triphenylsulfonium 1-(3-hydroxymethyladamantane)methoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, triphenylsulfonium methoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, 4-tert-butylphenyldiphenylsulfonium 2-benzoyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 4-tert-butylphenyldiphenylsulfonium 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-(pivaloyloxy)propanesulfonate, 4-tert-butylphenyldiphenylsulfonium 2-(cyclohexanecarbonyloxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 4-tert-butylphenyldiphenylsulfonium 2-(2-naphthoyloxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 4-tert-butylphenyldiphenylsulfonium 2-(1-adamantanecarbonyloxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 4-tert-butylphenyldiphenylsulfonium 2-hydroxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 4-tert-butylphenyldiphenylsulfonium adamantanemethoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, 4-tert-butylphenyldiphenylsulfonium 1-(3-hydroxymethyladamantane)methoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, 4-tert-butylphenyldiphenylsulfonium methoxycarbonyldifluoromethanesulfonate, 2-oxo-2-phenylethylthiacyclopentanium 2-benzoyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, 2-oxo-2-phenylethylthiacyclopentanium 2-cyclohexanecarbonyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonate, triphenylsulfonium perfluoro(1,3-propylenebissulfonyl)imide, triphenylsulfonium bis(pentafluoroethylsulfonyl)imide, 2-(2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluoro-1-(nonafluorobutylsulfonyloxyimino)pentyl)fluorene, 2-(2,2,3,3,4,4-pentafluoro-1-(nonafluorobutylsulfonyloxyimino)butyl)fluorene, 2-(2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6-decafluoro-1-(nonafluorobutylsulfonyloxyimino)hexyl)fluorene, 2-(2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluoro-1-(2-(cyclohexanecarbonyloxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonyloxyimino)pentyl)fluorene, 2-(2,2,3,3,4,4-pentafluoro-1-(2-(cyclohexanecarbonyloxy)-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropanesulfonyloxyimino)butyl)fluorene, and 2-(2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6-decafluoro-1-(nonafluorobutylsulfonyloxyimino)hexyl)fluorene.

In the chemically amplified resist composition, the photoacid generator (E) may be added in any desired amount as long as the objects of the invention are not compromised. An appropriate amount of the photoacid generator (E) is 0 to 10 parts, and when added, 0.1 to 10 parts, and more preferably 0.1 to 5 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the base resin in the composition. Too high a proportion of the photoacid generator (E) may give rise to problems of degraded resolution and foreign matter upon development and resist film peeling. The photoacid generators (E) may be used alone or in admixture of two or more. The transmittance of the resist film can be controlled by using an photoacid generator having a low transmittance at the exposure wavelength and adjusting the amount of the photoacid generator added.

It is noted that an acid diffusion controlling function may be provided when two or more photoacid generators are used in admixture provided that one photoacid generator is an onium salt capable of generating a weak acid. Specifically, in a system using a mixture of a photoacid generator capable of generating a strong acid (e.g., fluorinated sulfonic acid) and an onium salt capable of generating a weak acid (e.g., non-fluorinated sulfonic acid or carboxylic acid), if the strong acid generated from the photoacid generator upon exposure to high-energy radiation collides with the unreacted onium salt having a weak acid anion, then a salt exchange occurs whereby the weak acid is released and an onium salt having a strong acid anion is formed. In this course, the strong acid is exchanged into the weak acid having a low catalysis, incurring apparent deactivation of the acid for enabling to control acid diffusion.

If an onium salt capable of generating a strong acid and an onium salt capable of generating a weak acid are used in admixture, an exchange from the strong acid to the weak acid as above can take place, but it never happens that the weak acid collides with the unreacted onium salt capable of generating a strong acid to induce a salt exchange. This is because of a likelihood of an onium cation forming an ion pair with a stronger acid anion.

In the resist composition of the invention, there may be added a compound which is decomposed with an acid to generate another acid, that is, acid amplifier compound. For these compounds, reference should be made to J. Photopolym. Sci. and Tech., 8, 43-44, 45-46 (1995), and ibid., 9, 29-30 (1996).

Examples of the acid amplifier compound include tert-butyl-2-methyl-2-tosyloxymethyl acetoacetate and 2-phenyl-2-(2-tosyloxyethyl)-1,3-dioxolane, but are not limited thereto. Of well-known photoacid generators, many of those compounds having poor stability, especially poor thermal stability exhibit an acid amplifier-like behavior.

In the resist composition of the invention, an appropriate amount of the acid amplifier compound is up to 2 parts, and especially up to 1 part by weight per 100 parts by weight of the base resin. Excessive amounts of the acid amplifier compound make diffusion control difficult, leading to degradation of resolution and pattern profile.

Component F

Component (F) is an organic acid derivative and/or a fluorinated alcohol. Illustrative, non-limiting, examples of the organic acid derivatives include phenol, cresol, catechol, resorcinol, pyrogallol, phloroglucin, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)methane, 2,2-bis(4′-hydroxyphenyl)propane, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)sulfone, 1,1,1-tris(4′-hydroxyphenyl)ethane, 1,1,2-tris(4′-hydroxyphenyl)ethane, hydroxybenzophenone, 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, 3-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, 2-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid, 3-(2-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid, 2,5-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, 1,2-phenylenediacetic acid, 1,3-phenylenediacetic acid, 1,4-phenylenediacetic acid, 1,2-phenylenedioxydiacetic acid, 1,4-phenylenedipropanoic acid, benzoic acid, salicylic acid, 4,4-bis(4′-hydroxyphenyl)valeric acid, 4-tert-butoxyphenylacetic acid, 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)butyric acid, 3,4-dihydroxymandelic acid, and 4-hydroxymandelic acid. Of these, salicylic acid and 4,4-bis(4′-hydroxyphenyl)valeric acid are preferred. They may be used alone or in admixture of two or more.

The fluorinated alcohol is an alcohol which is substituted with fluorine atoms except α-position. Those compounds terminated with 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol are desirable although the fluorinated alcohols are not limited thereto. Illustrative examples of the desirable fluorinated alcohols are given below.

Note that R′ is selected from C₂-C₃₀ acetal groups and C₄-C₃₀ tertiaryl alkyl groups having formulae (C1) and (C2) which have been described in the “base resin” section.

In the chemically amplified resist composition of the invention, the organic acid derivative or fluorinated alcohol is preferably formulated in an amount of up to 5 parts, and especially up to 1 part by weight, per 100 parts by weight of the base resin. More than 5 phr may result in too low a resolution. Depending on the combination of the other components in the resist composition, the organic acid derivative and fluorinated alcohol may be omitted.

Component G

In one preferred embodiment, the resist composition further contains (G) a compound with a weight average molecular weight of up to 3,000 which changes its solubility in an alkaline developer under the action of an acid, that is, a dissolution inhibitor. Typically, a compound obtained by substituting acid labile substituents for some or all hydrogen atoms of hydroxyl groups on a phenol or carboxylic acid derivative having a low molecular weight of up to 2,500 or fluorinated alcohol is added as the dissolution inhibitor.

Examples of the phenol or carboxylic acid derivative having a weight average molecular weight of up to 2,500 include bisphenol A, bisphenol H, bisphenol S, 4,4-bis(4′-hydroxyphenyl)valeric acid, tris(4-hydroxyphenyl)methane, 1,1,1-tris(4′-hydroxyphenyl)ethane, 1,1,2-tris(4′-hydroxyphenyl)ethane, phenolphthalein, thymolphthalein, cholic acid, deoxycholic acid, and lithocholic acid. Examples of the fluorinated alcohol include compounds terminated with 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol as described above. The acid labile substituents are the same as those exemplified as the acid labile groups in the polymer.

Illustrative, non-limiting, examples of the dissolution inhibitors which are useful herein include bis(4-(2′-tetrahydropyranyloxy)phenyl)methane, bis(4-(2′-tetrahydrofuranyloxy)phenyl)methane, bis(4-tert-butoxyphenyl)methane, bis(4-tert-butoxycarbonyloxyphenyl)methane, bis(4-tert-butoxycarbonylmethyloxyphenyl)methane, bis(4-(1′-ethoxyethoxy)phenyl)methane, bis(4-(1′-ethoxypropyloxy)phenyl)methane, 2,2-bis(4′-(2″-tetrahydropyranyloxy))propane, 2,2-bis(4′-(2″-tetrahydrofuranyloxy)phenyl)propane, 2,2-bis(4′-tert-butoxyphenyl)propane, 2,2-bis(4′-tert-butoxycarbonyloxyphenyl)propane, 2,2-bis(4-tert-butoxycarbonylmethyloxyphenyl)propane, 2,2-bis(4′-(1″-ethoxyethoxy)phenyl)propane, 2,2-bis(4′-(1″-ethoxypropyloxy)phenyl)propane, tert-butyl 4,4-bis(4′-(2″-tetrahydropyranyloxy)phenyl)valerate, tert-butyl 4,4-bis(4′-(2″-tetrahydrofuranyloxy)phenyl)valerate, tert-butyl 4,4-bis(4′-tert-butoxyphenyl)valerate, tert-butyl 4,4-bis(4-tert-butoxycarbonyloxyphenyl)valerate, tert-butyl 4,4-bis(4′-tert-butoxycarbonylmethyloxyphenyl)valerate, tert-butyl 4,4-bis(4′-(1″-ethoxyethoxy)phenyl)valerate, tert-butyl 4,4-bis(4′-(1″-ethoxypropyloxy)phenyl)valerate, tris(4-(2′-tetrahydropyranyloxy)phenyl)methane, tris(4-(2′-tetrahydrofuranyloxy)phenyl)methane, tris(4-tert-butoxyphenyl)methane, tris(4-tert-butoxycarbonyloxyphenyl)methane, tris(4-tert-butoxycarbonyloxymethylphenyl)methane, tris(4-(1′-ethoxyethoxy)phenyl)methane, tris(4-(1′-ethoxypropyloxy)phenyl)methane, 1,1,2-tris(4′-(2″-tetrahydropyranyloxy)phenyl)ethane, 1,1,2-tris(4′-(2″-tetrahydrofuranyloxy)phenyl)ethane, 1,1,2-tris(4′-tert-butoxyphenyl)ethane, 1,1,2-tris(4′-tert-butoxycarbonyloxyphenyl)ethane, 1,1,2-tris(4′-tert-butoxycarbonylmethyloxyphenyl)ethane, 1,1,2-tris(4′-(1′-ethoxyethoxy)phenyl)ethane, 1,1,2-tris(4′-(1′-ethoxypropyloxy)phenyl)ethane, tert-butyl cholate, tert-butyl deoxycholate, and tert-butyl lithocholate. The compounds described in JP-A 2003-107706 are also useful.

In the resist composition of the invention, an appropriate amount of the dissolution inhibitor (G) is up to 20 parts, and especially up to 15 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the base resin. With more than 20 phr of the dissolution inhibitor, the resist composition becomes less heat resistant because of an increased content of monomer components.

Component C′

The base resin used in the negative working resist composition is (C′) a base resin which is normally alkali soluble, but becomes substantially alkali insoluble under the action of a crosslinker. It is preferably a precursor resin which will be substituted with acid labile groups to form the base resin (C).

Examples of the alkali-soluble resin include poly(p-hydroxystyrene), poly(m-hydroxystyrene), poly(4-hydroxy-2-methylstyrene), poly(4-hydroxy-3-methylstyrene), poly(α-methyl-p-hydroxystyrene), partially hydrogenated p-hydroxystyrene copolymers, p-hydroxystyrene-α-methyl-p-hydroxystyrene copolymers, p-hydroxystyrene-α-methylstyrene copolymers, p-hydroxystyrene-styrene copolymers, p-hydroxystyrene-m-hydroxystyrene copolymers, p-hydroxystyrene-styrene copolymers, p-hydroxystyrene-acrylic acid copolymers, p-hydroxystyrene-methacrylic acid copolymers, p-hydroxystyrene-methyl methacrylate copolymers, p-hydroxystyrene-acrylic acid-methyl methacrylate copolymers, p-hydroxystyrene-methyl acrylate copolymers, p-hydroxystyrene-methacrylic acid-methyl methacrylate copolymers, poly(methacrylic acid), poly(acrylic acid), acrylic acid-methyl acrylate copolymers, methacrylic acid-methyl methacrylate copolymers, acrylic acid-maleimide copolymers, methacrylic acid-maleimide copolymers, p-hydroxystyrene-acrylic acid-maleimide copolymers, and p-hydroxystyrene-methacrylic acid-maleimide copolymers, but are not limited to these combinations.

To impart a certain function, suitable substituent groups may be introduced into some of the phenolic hydroxyl and carboxyl groups on the foregoing polymer (to be protected with acid labile groups). Exemplary and preferred are substituent groups for improving adhesion to the substrate, substituent groups for improving etching resistance, and especially substituent groups which are relatively stable against acid and alkali and effective for controlling such that the dissolution rate in an alkali developer of unexposed and low exposed areas of a resist film may not become too high. Illustrative, non-limiting, substituent groups include 2-hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxypropyl, methoxymethyl, methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl, methoxycarbonylmethyl, ethoxycarbonylmethyl, 4-methyl-2-oxo-4-oxolanyl, 4-methyl-2-oxo-4-oxanyl, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, acetyl, pivaloyl, adamantyl, isobornyl, and cyclohexyl. It is also possible to introduce acid-decomposable substituent groups such as tert-butoxycarbonyl and relatively acid-undecomposable substituent groups such as tert-butyl and tert-butoxycarbonylmethyl.

In the resist composition, the resin (C′) is blended in any desired amount, preferably of 65 to 99 parts by weight, especially 65 to 98 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the solids (inclusive of that resin).

Component H

Formulated in the negative resist composition is a crosslinker (F) which forms a crosslinked structure under the action of acid. Typical crosslinkers are compounds having at least two hydroxymethyl, alkoxymethyl, epoxy or vinyl ether groups within a molecule. Substituted glycoluril derivatives, urea derivatives, and hexa(methoxymethyl)melamine compounds are suitable as the crosslinker. Examples include N,N,N′,N′-tetramethoxymethylurea, hexamethoxymethylmelamine, tetraalkoxymethyl-substituted glycoluril compounds such as tetrahydroxymethyl-substituted glycoluril and tetramethoxymethylglycoluril, and condensates of phenolic compounds such as substituted or unsubstituted bis(hydroxymethylphenol) compounds and bisphenol A with epichlorohydrin. Especially preferred crosslinkers are 1,3,5,7-tetraalkoxymethylglycolurils such as 1,3,5,7-tetramethoxymethylglycoluril, 1,3,5,7-tetrahydroxymethylglycoluril, 2,6-dihydroxymethyl-p-cresol, 2,6-dihydroxymethylphenol, 2,2′,6,6′-tetrahydroxymethyl-bisphenol A, 1,4-bis[2-(2-hydroxypropyl)]benzene, N,N,N′,N′-tetramethoxymethylurea, and hexamethoxymethylmelamine.

In the chemically amplified resist composition, an appropriate amount of the crosslinker is, though not limited thereto, 1 to 20 parts, and especially 5 to 15 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the base resin. The crosslinkers may be used alone or in admixture of two or more.

In the chemically amplified resist composition of the invention, there may be added such additives as a surfactant for improving coating characteristics, and a light absorbing agent for reducing diffuse reflection from the substrate.

Illustrative, non-limiting, examples of the surfactant include nonionic surfactants, for example, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers such as polyoxyethylene lauryl ether, polyoxyethylene stearyl ether, polyoxyethylene cetyl ether, and polyoxyethylene oleyl ether, polyoxyethylene alkylaryl ethers such as polyoxyethylene octylphenol ether and polyoxyethylene nonylphenol ether, polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene block copolymers, sorbitan fatty acid esters such as sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan monopalmitate, and sorbitan monostearate, and polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters such as polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monopalmitate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan trioleate, and polyoxyethylene sorbitan tristearate; fluorochemical surfactants such as EFTOP EF301, EF303 and EF352 (JEMCO Inc.), Megaface F171, F172, F173, R08 and R30 (Dai-Nippon Ink & Chemicals, Inc.), Fluorad FC430, FC431, FC-4430 and FC-4432 (Sumitomo 3M Co., Ltd.), Asahiguard AG710, Surflon S-381, S-382, SC101, SC102, SC103, SC104, SC105, SC106, Surfynol E1004, KH-10, KH-20, KH-30 and KH-40 (Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.); organosiloxane polymers KP341, X-70-092 and X-70-093 (Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.), acrylic acid or methacrylic acid Polyflow No. 75 and No. 95 (Kyoeisha Ushi Kagaku Kogyo Co., Ltd.). Inter alia, FC430, Surflon S-381, Surfynol E1004, KH-20 and KH-30 are preferred. These surfactants may be used alone or in admixture.

In the chemically amplified resist composition of the invention, the surfactant is preferably formulated in an amount of up to 2 parts, and especially up to 1 part by weight, per 100 parts by weight of the base resin.

In the chemically amplified resist composition of the invention, a UV absorber may be added. Those UV absorbers described in JP-A 11-190904 are useful, but the invention is not limited thereto. Exemplary UV absorbers are diaryl sulfoxide derivatives such as bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)sulfoxide, bis(4-tert-butoxyphenyl)sulfoxide, bis(4-tert-butoxycarbonyloxyphenyl)sulfoxide, and bis[4-(1-ethoxyethoxy)phenyl]sulfoxide; diarylsulfone derivatives such as bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)sulfone, bis(4-tert-butoxyphenyl)sulfone, bis(4-tert-butoxycarbonyloxyphenyl)sulfone, bis[4-(1-ethoxyethoxy)phenyl]sulfone, and bis[4-(1-ethoxypropoxy)phenyl]sulfone; diazo compounds such as benzoquinonediazide, naphthoquinonediazide, anthraquinonediazide, diazofluorene, diazotetralone, and diazophenanthrone; quinonediazido group-containing compounds such as complete or partial ester compounds between naphthoquinone-1,2-diazido-5-sulfonic acid chloride and 2,3,4-trihydroxybenzophenone and complete or partial ester compounds between naphthoquinone-1,2-diazido-4-sulfonic acid chloride and 2,4,4′-trihydroxybenzophenone; tert-butyl 9-anthracenecarboxylate, tert-amyl 9-anthracenecarboxylate, tert-methoxymethyl 9-anthracenecarboxylate, tert-ethoxyethyl 9-anthracenecarboxylate, 2-tert-tetrahydropyranyl 9-anthracenecarboxylate, and 2-tert-tetrahydrofuranyl 9-anthracenecarboxylate.

The UV absorber may or may not be added to the resist composition depending on the type of resist composition. An appropriate amount of UV absorber, if added, is 0 to 10 parts, more preferably 0.5 to 10 parts, most preferably 1 to 5 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the base resin.

For the microfabrication of integrated circuits, any well-known lithography may be used to form a resist pattern from the chemically amplified resist composition of the invention. The composition is applied onto a substrate for integrated circuitry fabrication (e.g., Si, SiO₂, SiN, SiON, TiN, WSi, BPSG, SOG, organic antireflective film, etc.) or a substrate for mask circuitry fabrication (e.g., Cr, CrO, CrON, MoSi, etc.) by a suitable coating technique such as spin coating, roll coating, flow coating, dip coating, spray coating or doctor coating. The coating is prebaked on a hot plate at a temperature of 60 to 150° C. for about 1 to 10 minutes, preferably 80 to 140° C. for 1 to 5 minutes. The resulting resist film is generally 0.1 to 2.0 μm thick. Through a photomask having a desired pattern, the resist film is then exposed to radiation, preferably having an exposure wavelength of up to 300 nm, such as UV, deep-UV, electron beam, EUV, x-ray, excimer laser light, γ-ray and synchrotron radiation. The preferred light source is a beam from an excimer laser, especially KrF excimer laser, deep UV of 245-255 nm wavelength and ArF excimer laser. The exposure dose is preferably in the range of about 1 to 200 mJ/cm², more preferably about 10 to 100 mJ/cm². The film is further baked on a hot plate at 60 to 150° C. for 1 to 5 minutes, preferably 80 to 140° C. for 1 to 3 minutes (post-exposure baking=PEB).

Thereafter the resist film is developed with a developer in the form of an aqueous base solution, for example, 0.1 to 5 wt %, preferably 2 to 3 wt % aqueous solution of tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) for 0.1 to 3 minutes, preferably 0.5 to 2 minutes by conventional techniques such as dip, puddle or spray technique. In this way, a desired resist pattern is formed on the substrate. It is appreciated that the resist composition of the invention is best suited for micro-patterning using such actinic radiation as deep UV with a wavelength of 254 to 193 nm, vacuum UV with a wavelength of 157 nm, electron beam, x-ray, excimer laser light, γ-ray and synchrotron radiation. With any of the above-described parameters outside the above-described range, the process may sometimes fail to produce the desired pattern.

In the practice of the invention, the immersion lithography process involving using ArF excimer laser of 193 nm wavelength and feeding a liquid such as water, glycerin or ethylene glycol between the substrate and the projection lens is advantageously applicable.

EXAMPLE

Synthesis Examples, Examples and Comparative Examples are given below for further illustrating the invention, but they are not to be construed as limiting the invention.

Synthesis Example 1 Synthesis of Triphenylsulfonium Chloride

Diphenyl sulfoxide, 40 g (0.2 mole), was dissolved in 400 g of dichloromethane, which was stirred under ice cooling. At a temperature below 20° C., 65 g (0.6 mole) of trimethylsilyl chloride was added dropwise to the solution, which was aged for 30 minutes at the temperature. Then, a Grignard reagent which had been prepared from 14.6 g (0.6 mole) of metallic magnesium, 67.5 g (0.6 mole) of chlorobenzene and 168 g of tetrahydrofuran (THF) was added dropwise at a temperature below 20° C. The reaction solution was aged for one hour, after which 50 g of water at a temperature below 20° C. was added to quench the reaction. To this solution, 150 g of water, 10 g of 12N hydrochloric acid, and 200 g of diethyl ether were further added.

The water layer was separated and washed with 100 g of diethyl ether, yielding an aqueous solution of triphenylsulfonium chloride. The compound in aqueous solution form was used in the subsequent reaction without further isolation.

Synthesis Example 2 Synthesis of 4-tert-butylphenyldiphenylsulfonium bromide

The target compound was obtained by following the procedure of Synthesis Example 1 aside from using 4-tert-butylbromobenzene instead of the chlorobenzene in Synthesis Example 1 and increasing the amount of water for extraction.

Synthesis Example 3 Synthesis of 4-tert-butoxyphenyldiphenylsulfonium chloride

The target compound was obtained by following the procedure of Synthesis Example 1 aside from using 4-tert-butoxychlorobenzene instead of the chlorobenzene in Synthesis Example 1, using dichloromethane containing 5 wt % of triethylamine as the solvent, and increasing the amount of water for extraction.

Synthesis Example 4 Synthesis of tris(4-methylphenyl)sulfonium chloride

The target compound was obtained by following the procedure of Synthesis Example 1 aside from using bis(4-methylphenyl)sulfoxide instead of the diphenyl sulfoxide and 4-chlorotoluene instead of the chlorobenzene in Synthesis Example 1, and increasing the amount of water for extraction.

Synthesis Example 5 Synthesis of tris(4-tert-butylphenyl)sulfonium bromide

The target compound was obtained by following the procedure of Synthesis Example 1 aside from using bis(4-tert-butylphenyl)sulfoxide instead of the diphenyl sulfoxide and 4-tert-butylbromobenzene instead of the chlorobenzene in Synthesis Example 1, and increasing the amount of water for extraction.

Synthesis Example 6 Synthesis of bis(4-tert-butylphenyl)iodonium hydrogen sulfate

A mixture of 84 g (0.5 mole) of tert-butylbenzene, 53 g (0.25 mole) of potassium iodate and 50 g of acetic anhydride was stirred under ice cooling, and a mixture of 35 g of acetic anhydride and 95 g of conc. sulfuric acid was added dropwise at a temperature below 30° C. The resulting solution was aged for 3 hours at room temperature and ice cooled again, after which 250 g of water was added dropwise to quench the reaction. The reaction solution was extracted with 400 g of dichloromethane. The organic layer was discolored by adding 6 g of sodium hydrogen sulfite. The organic layer was washed with 250 g of water three times. The washed organic layer was concentrated in vacuum, obtaining a crude target product. The product was used in the subsequent reaction without further purification.

Synthesis Example 7 Synthesis of Phenacyltetrahydrothiophenium Bromide

88.2 g (0.44 mole) of phenacyl bromide and 39.1 g (0.44 mole) of tetrahydrothiophene were dissolved in 220 g of nitromethane, which was stirred for 4 hours at room temperature. 800 g of water and 400 g of diethyl ether were added to the reaction solution whereupon the mixture separated into two layers. The aqueous layer was taken out, which was an aqueous solution of the target compound, phenacyltetrahydrothiophenium bromide.

Synthesis Example 8 Synthesis of Dimethylphenylsulfonium Hydrogen Sulfate

6.2 g (0.05 mole) of thioanisole and 6.9 g (0.055 mole) of dimethyl sulfate were stirred for 12 hours at room temperature. 100 g of water and 50 ml of diethyl ether were added to the reaction solution whereupon the mixture separated into two layers. The aqueous layer was taken out, which was an aqueous solution of the target compound, dimethylphenylsulfonium hydrogen sulfate.

Synthesis Example 9 Synthesis of sodium 2-benzoyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropane-1-sulfonate

10.0 g of 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-2-propan-2-yl benzoate, which had been synthesized by a conventional technique, was dispersed in 72 g of water, after which 12.0 g of sodium hydrogen sulfite and 1.24 g of benzoyl peroxide were added. The mixture was allowed to react at 85° C. for 65 hours. It was cooled and combined with toluene, followed by separatory operation to separate a water layer. A saturated sodium chloride aqueous solution was added to the water layer whereupon white crystals settled out. The crystals were collected by filtration, washed with a small volume of saturated sodium chloride aqueous solution and then dried in vacuum, obtaining the target compound, sodium 2-benzoyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropane-1-sulfonate. White crystals, 5.85 g (yield 43%).

Synthesis Example 10 Synthesis of triphenylsulfonium 2-benzoyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropane-1-sulfonate

To 50 g of dichloromethane were added an amount (corresponding to 0.011 mole) of the triphenylsulfonium chloride aqueous solution of Synthesis Example 1 and 3.6 g (0.01 mole) of sodium 2-benzoyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropane-1-sulfonate synthesized in Synthesis Example 9, followed by stirring. The organic layer was separated and washed with 50 g of water three times. The organic layer was concentrated and 25 g of diethyl ether was added to the residue for crystallization. The crystals were filtered and dried, obtaining the target compound. White crystals, 4.5 g (yield 75%).

Synthesis Example 11 Synthesis of triphenylsulfonium 2-hydroxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropane-1-sulfonate (PAG1)

In 72 g of methanol was dissolved 34.4 g of triphenylsulfonium 2-benzoyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropane-1-sulfonate synthesized in Synthesis Example 10. While the solution was stirred under ice cooling, 54.0 g of 5% sodium hydroxide solution was added dropwise at a temperature below 10° C. It was aged at the temperature for 4 hours. At a temperature below 10° C., 6.8 g of 12N hydrochloric acid was added to quench the reaction. The methanol was distilled off in vacuum, after which 270 g of dichloromethane was added to the residue. The organic layer was washed with 40 g of water three times. The organic layer was concentrated, after which 60 g of diethyl ether was added to the residue for crystallization. The crystals were filtered and dried, obtaining the target compound. White crystals, 24.3 g (yield 85%).

Synthesis Examples 12-18

Target compounds were synthesized as in Synthesis Examples 10 and 11 except that the sulfonium salts prepared in Synthesis Examples 2 to 8 were used. The resulting onium salts PAG2 to PAG8 are shown below.

Synthesis Example 19 Synthesis of triphenylsulfonium hydrogen/1-(difluorosulfomethyl)-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (PAG-A)

In 20 g of acetonitrile were dissolved 4.9 g (0.01 mole) of triphenylsulfonium 2-hydroxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropane-1-sulfonate of Synthesis Example 11, 1.0 g (0.01 mole) of triethylamine, and 0.24 g (0.002 mole) of N,N-dimethylaminopyridine. 1.85 g (0.012 mole) of cis-cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylic anhydride was added to the solution, which was heated and stirred at 50° C. for 24 hours. A dilute hydrochloric acid solution prepared from 2 g of 12N hydrochloric acid and 20 g of water was added, after which acetonitrile was distilled off in vacuum. 50 g of dichloromethane and 20 g of water were added to the residue, whereupon the organic layer was separated. The organic layer was then washed with 20 g of water, after which dichloromethane was distilled off in vacuum. Ether was added to the residue for purification by recrystallization. Filtration and drying gave the target compound. White crystals, 3.8 g (yield 59%).

The target compound was analyzed by spectroscopy. The data of infrared (IR) absorption spectroscopy and time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) are shown below. The NMR spectra, ¹H-NMR and ¹⁹F-NMR in DMSO-d₆ are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

IR spectra (KBr, cm⁻¹)

-   -   3066, 2940, 2859, 1768, 1733, 1477, 1448, 1371, 1326, 1276,         1251, 1232, 1189, 1166, 1145, 1112, 1074, 995, 750, 682, 642,         503

TOFMS (MALDI)

-   -   Positive M⁺263 (corresponding to (C₆H₅)₃S⁺)     -   Negative M⁻383 (corresponding to CF₃CH(OCO—C₆H₁₀—CO₂H)CF₂SO₃ ⁻)

Synthesis Example 20 Synthesis of triphenylsulfonium cyclohexyl/1-(difluorosulfomethyl)-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2,3-dicarboxylate (PAG-B)

In 20 g of acetonitrile were dissolved 4.9 g (0.01 mole) of triphenylsulfonium 2-hydroxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropane-1-sulfonate of Synthesis Example 11, 1.0 g (0.01 mole) of triethylamine, and 0.24 g (0.002 mole) of N,N-dimethylaminopyridine. This was ice cooled. 3.4 g (0.012 mole) of 3-cyclohexyloxycarbonylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2-carbonyl chloride was added to the solution at a temperature below 5° C. The solution was stirred for 1 hour at room temperature. A dilute hydrochloric acid solution prepared from 1 g of 12N hydrochloric acid and 10 g of water was added, after which acetonitrile was distilled off in vacuum. 100 g of dichloromethane and 20 g of water were added to the residue, whereupon the organic layer was separated. The organic layer was then washed with 20 g of water, after which dichloromethane was distilled off in vacuum. The steps of adding ether to the residue and decanting a separating oily matter were repeated three times. The oily matter was vacuum evaporated to dryness, obtaining 5.8 g of the target compound in a vitreous solid form (yield 82%).

The target compound was analyzed by spectroscopy. The data of IR absorption spectroscopy and TOFMS are shown below. The NMR spectra, ¹H-NMR and ¹⁹F-NMR in DMSO-d₆ are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

IR spectra (KBr, cm⁻¹)

-   -   2940, 1762, 1720, 1477, 1448, 1371, 1265, 1251, 1214, 1184,         1116, 1087, 1072, 995, 750, 684, 642, 503

TOFMS (MALDI)

Positive M⁺263 (corresponding to (C₆H₅)₃S⁺)

-   -   Negative M⁻383 (corresponding to CF₃CH(OCO—C₇H₁₀—CO₂C₆H₁₁)CF₂SO₃         ⁻)

Synthesis Example 21 Synthesis of triphenylsulfonium 1-(difluorosulfomethyl)-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl hexahydro-3,5-methano-2H-cyclopenta-[b]furan-2-oxo-7-carboxylate (PAG-C)

The procedure of Synthesis Example 20 was repeated except that 2.0 g (0.01 mole) of hexahydro-3,5-methano-2-oxo-2H-cyclopenta[b]furan-7-carboxylic acid chloride was used instead of the 3-cyclohexyloxycarbonylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2-carbonyl chloride. The target compound was obtained in a vitreous solid form.

The target compound was analyzed by spectroscopy. The data of IR absorption spectroscopy and TOFMS are shown below. The NMR spectra, ¹H-NMR and ¹⁹F-NMR in DMSO-d₆ are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

IR spectra (KBr, cm⁻¹)

-   -   2973, 1779, 1477, 1448, 1369, 1315, 1253, 1216, 1186, 1166,         1135, 1101, 1087, 1070, 1035, 995, 983, 950, 840, 750, 684, 640,         578, 551, 522, 501

TOFMS (MALDI)

-   -   Positive M⁺263 (corresponding to (C₆H₅)₃S⁺)     -   Negative M⁻383 (corresponding to CF₃CH(OCO—C₈H₉O₂)CF₂SO₃ ⁻)

Specifically, PAG-A, PAG-B, and PAG-C have the structure shown below.

It is noted that PAG-A has in its anion moiety a cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylic acid derivative which includes cis and trans forms. PAG-B has in its anion moiety a bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2,3-dicarboxylic acid derivative which includes two endo- or exo-assuming positions. PAG-C has a hexahydro-3,5-methano-2H-cyclopenta[b]furan-2-oxo-7-carboxylic acid derivative which includes one endo- or exo-assuming position. Analysis results show that PAG-A, PAG-B, and PAG-C each are a mixture of isomers.

The photoacid generator of the invention may be composed of a single compound or an isomer mixture.

Synthesis Examples 22 to 42

PAG-D to PAG-X of the structure shown below were synthesized by the same procedure as in Synthesis Examples 19 to 21, aside from using PAG2 to PAG8 of Synthesis Examples 12 to 18.

Synthesis Example 43 Synthesis of triphenylsulfonium 1-(difluorosulfomethyl)-2,2,22-trifluoroethyl 4-adamantanone-1-carboxylate (PAG-Y)

4-adamantanone-1-carboxylic acid was synthesized by reaction of 5-hydroxy-2-adamantanone with sulfuric acid and formic acid. Using oxalyl chloride, it was converted into a corresponding carboxylic acid chloride.

In 20 g of acetonitrile were dissolved 4.9 g (0.01 mole) of triphenylsulfonium 2-hydroxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropane-1-sulfonate of Synthesis Example 11, 1.0 g (0.01 mole) of triethylamine, and 0.24 g (0.002 mole) of N,N-dimethylaminopyridine. This was ice cooled. 2.6 g (0.012 mole) of 4-adamantanone-1-carbonyl chloride, prepared above, was added to the solution at a temperature below 5° C. The solution was stirred for 1 hour at room temperature. A dilute hydrochloric acid solution prepared from 1 g of 12N hydrochloric acid and 10 g of water was added, after which acetonitrile was distilled off in vacuum. 50 g of dichloromethane, 50 g of methyl isobutyl ketone and 20 g of water were added to the residue, whereupon the organic layer was separated. The organic layer was then washed with 20 g of water, after which the solvents were distilled off in vacuum. The steps of adding ether to the residue and decanting a separating oily matter were repeated three times. The oily matter was vacuum evaporated to dryness, obtaining 4.3 g of the target compound in an oily form (yield 65%).

The target compound was analyzed by spectroscopy. The data of IR absorption spectroscopy and TOFMS are shown below. The NMR spectra, ¹H-NMR and ¹⁹F-NMR in DMSO-d₆ are shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. It was observed in ¹H-NMR that traces of dichloromethane and methyl isobutyl ketone were left.

IR spectra (KBr, cm⁻¹)

-   -   2937, 2861, 1758, 1724, 1687, 1477, 1448, 1373, 1326, 1251,         1218, 1186, 1162, 1089, 1074, 1033, 995, 917, 750, 684, 640,         574, 551, 516, 503

TOFMS (MALDI)

-   -   Positive M⁺263 (corresponding to (C₆H₅)₃S⁺)     -   Negative M⁻405 (corresponding to (C₁₀H₁₃O—COO)CH(CF₃)CF₂SO₃ ⁻)     -   PAG-Y has the structure shown below.

Synthesis Example 44 Synthesis of triphenylsulfonium 1-(difluorosulfomethyl)-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl phthalic acid (PAG-Z1)

In 20 g of tetrahydrofuran were dissolved 4.9 g (0.01 mole) of triphenylsulfonium 2-hydroxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropane-1-sulfonate of Synthesis Example 11. This was cooled by dry ice/methanol bath. 0.01 mole of n-butyl lithium hexane solution was added to the solution, and then 3.0 g (0.02 mole) of phthalic anhydride was added to the solution at a temperature below 25° C. The solution was stirred for 1 hour at room temperature. 0.1 g (0.001 mole) of N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine was added thereto, and the solution was further stirred for 1 hour. A dilute hydrochloric acid solution prepared from 1 g of 12N hydrochloric acid and 10 g of water was added, after which tetrahydrofuran was distilled off in vacuum. 50 g of dichloromethane, 50 g of methyl isobutyl ketone and 20 g of water were added to the residue, whereupon the organic layer was separated. The organic layer was then washed with 20 g of water, after which the solvents were distilled off in vacuum. The steps of adding ether to the residue and crystallizing were conducted, obtaining 3.4 g of the target compound as a white crystal (yield 50%).

The target compound was analyzed by spectroscopy. The data of IR absorption spectroscopy and TOFMS are shown below. The NMR spectra, ¹H-NMR and ¹⁹F-NMR in DMSO-d₆ are shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

IR spectra (KBr, cm⁻¹)

-   -   3064, 2969, 2935, 1772, 1727, 1477, 1448, 1394, 1371, 1324,         1280, 1259, 1228, 1193, 1168, 1135, 1110, 1079, 993, 906, 777,         754, 748, 684, 642, 580, 553, 522, 503

TOFMS (MALDI)

-   -   Positive M⁺263 (corresponding to (C₆H₅)₃S⁺)     -   Negative M⁻377 (corresponding to (C₇H₅O₂—COO)CH(CF₃)CF₂SO₃ ⁻)     -   PAG-Z1 has the structure shown below.

Synthesis Example 45 Synthesis of triphenylsulfonium 1-(difluorosulfomethyl)-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl succinic acid (PAG-Z2)

The procedure of Synthesis Example 19 was repeated except that succinic anhydride was used instead of cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylic anhydride. The target compound was obtained as a white crystal (yield 76%).

The target compound was analyzed by spectroscopy. The data of IR absorption spectroscopy and TOFMS are shown below. The NMR spectra, ¹H-NMR and ¹⁹F-NMR in DMSO-d₆ are shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.

IR spectra (KBr, cm⁻¹)

-   -   3093, 3068, 1776, 1733, 1477, 1448, 1421, 1373, 1321, 1276,         1238, 1184, 1170, 1128, 1076, 995, 948, 906, 838, 752, 684, 642,         512, 503

TOFMS (MALDI)

-   -   Positive M⁺263 (corresponding to (C₆H₅)₃S⁺)     -   Negative M⁻329 (corresponding to (C₃H₅O₂—COO)CH(CF₃)CF₂SO₃ ⁻)     -   PAG-Z2 has the structure shown below.

Synthesis Example 46 Synthesis of triphenylsulfonium 1-(difluorosulfomethyl)-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl 3-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid (PAG-Z3)

The procedure of Synthesis Example 19 was repeated except that 3-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylic anhydride was used instead of cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylic anhydride. The target compound was obtained as a white crystal (yield 70%).

The target compound was analyzed by spectroscopy. The data of IR absorption spectroscopy and TOFMS are shown below. The NMR spectra, ¹H-NMR and ¹⁹F-NMR in DMSO-d₆ are shown in FIGS. 13 and 14.

IR spectra (KBr, cm⁻¹)

-   -   3064, 2971, 1768, 1735, 1477, 1448, 1371, 1324, 1274, 1249,         1224, 1189, 1135, 1072, 995, 750, 684, 642, 503

TOFMS (MALDI)

-   -   Positive M⁺263 (corresponding to (C₆H₅)₃S⁺)     -   Negative M⁻381 (corresponding to (C₇H₉O₂—COO)CH(CF₃)CF₂SO₃ ⁻)     -   PAG-Z3 has the structure shown below.

Synthesis Example 47 Synthesis of triphenylsulfonium 1-(difluorosulfomethyl)-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl 4-cyclohexanone-carboxylate (PAG-Z4)

The procedure of Synthesis Example 43 was repeated except that 4-cyclohexanone-1-carbonyl chloride was used instead of 4-adamantanone-1-carbonyl chloride. The target compound was obtained in an oily form (yield 69%).

The target compound was analyzed by spectroscopy. The data of IR absorption spectroscopy and TOFMS are shown below. The NMR spectra, ¹H-NMR and ¹⁹F-NMR in DMSO-d₆ are shown in FIGS. 15 and 16.

IR spectra (KBr, cm⁻¹)

-   -   1766, 1712, 1477, 1448, 1373, 1324, 1251, 1216, 1186, 1116,         1072, 995, 925, 875, 838, 750, 684, 642

TOFMS (MALDI)

-   -   Positive M⁺263 (corresponding to (C₆H₅)₃S⁺)     -   Negative M⁻353 (corresponding to (C₆H₉O—COO)CH(CF₃)CF₂SO₃ ⁻)     -   PAG-Z4 has the structure shown below.

Examples 1-11 & Comparative Examples 1-2 Evaluation of Resist Resolution

Resist compositions were prepared by dissolving the photoacid generators of Synthesis Examples, Polymers 1 to 8 as the base resin, and quencher in a solvent containing 0.01 wt % of surfactant KH-20 (Seimi Chemical Co., Ltd.) according to the formulation shown in Table 1. They were filtered through a Teflon® filter having a pore size of 0.2 μm, giving resist solutions. Polymers 1 to 8 are shown below.

An antireflective coating liquid ARC-29A (Nissan Chemical Co., Ltd.) was coated onto a silicon substrate and baked at 200° C. for 60 seconds to form an antireflective coating of 78 nm thick. The resist solution was spin coated onto the antireflective coating and baked on a hot plate at 100° C. for 60 seconds, forming a resist film of 120 nm thick. The resist film was exposed by means of an ArF excimer laser microstepper model NSR-S307E (Nikon Corp., NA 0.85, ⅘ annular illumination, Cr mask), post-exposure baked (PEB) at the temperature shown in Table 2 for 60 seconds, and developed with a 2.38 wt % aqueous solution of tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) for 60 seconds.

An optimal exposure dose (sensitivity Eop, mJ/cm²) was the exposure which provided a 1:1 resolution at the top and bottom of a 80-nm grouped line-and-space pattern. The minimum line width (nm) of a line-and-space pattern which was ascertained separate at this dose was the resolution of a test resist. For the evaluation of pattern density dependency, a 1:10 isolated line pattern with an on-mask size of 130 nm was formed at the optimum exposure and determined for an actual on-wafer size, which was reported as mask fidelity (a larger value of on-wafer size is better).

The formulation and test results of the resist compositions are shown in Tables 1 and 2, respectively.

The solvents and quenchers in Tables 1 and 2 are shown below as well as the photoacid generators in Comparative Examples.

-   Solvent A: propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate -   Solvent B: cyclohexanone -   Quencher A: triethanolamine -   Quencher B: trismethoxymethoxyethylamine -   TPS-NfO: triphenylsulfonium perfluoro-1-butanesulfonate

TPS-BzOPFPS: triphenylsulfonium 2-benzoyloxy-1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoropropane-1-sulfonate TABLE 1 Comparative Formulation Example Example (pbw) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1 2 Polymer 1 80 60 80 80 Polymer 2 80 40 60 80 Polymer 3 80 Polymer 4 80 Polymer 5 40 20 20 Polymer 6 80 Polymer 7 80 Polymer 8 80 PAG-A 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 5.0 3.8 3.8 PAG-B 8.6 8.6 4.3 PAG-C 7.6 7.6 3.8 TPS-NfO 6.5 TPS-BzOPFPS 1.7 5.2 Quencher A 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 Quencher B 1.41 1.41 1.41 1.41 1.41 Solvent A 800 720 800 800 560 800 800 800 720 800 560 Solvent B 80 240 80 240

TABLE 2 Comparative Example Example Tests 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1 2 PEB temp. (° C.) 110 110 125 110 100 110 110 110 110 110 110 110 110 Sensitivity 30 32 34 32 32 24 25 21 32 30 30 32 30 (mJ/cm²) Resolution (nm) 70 70 75 75 70 75 75 75 75 70 75 75 75 Mask fidelity 80 85 85 85 85 70 70 60 75 85 85 30 60

Next, simulative immersion photolithography was carried out using the resist compositions of Examples 1, 4, 9 and Comparative Example 1. Specifically, a resist film of 125 nm thick was formed on a wafer by a procedure as described above and exposed by means of an ArF excimer laser microstepper model S307E (Nikon Corp., dipole). Immediately after the exposure, deionized water was fed over the entire surface of the wafer, whereby the exposed surface of resist was immersed in deionized water for 60 seconds (puddle). The wafer was rotated to spin off the water, followed by ordinary PEB and development. The number of defects in the pattern formed after development was counted by a wafer inspection system WINWIN 50-1200L (Tokyo Seimitsu Co., Ltd.). A defect density was computed therefrom. Defect density (/cm²)=(total number of detected defects)/(test area).

-   Pattern formed: repetitive pattern of 80 mm pitch, 160 nm     line-and-space -   Defect detection: light source UV, detection pixel size 0.125 μm,     cell-to-cell mode

Additionally, the pattern profile in resist cross-section was observed under a scanning electron microscope. The results are shown in Table 3. TABLE 3 Pattern profile Defect density (/cm²) Example 1 rectangular ≦0.05 Example 4 rectangular ≦0.05 Example 9 rectangular ≦0.05 Comparative Example 1 extreme T-top 10  

As is evident from Tables 2 and 3, the resist compositions of the invention have a high sensitivity, high resolution and minimized pattern density dependency, and invite neither profile changes nor defects during a long term of water rinsing as compared with the prior art composition, suggesting an ability to comply with the immersion photolithography.

Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-263934 is incorporated herein by reference.

Although some preferred embodiments have been described, many modifications and variations may be made thereto in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described without departing from the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A photoacid generator for chemically amplified resist compositions which generates a sulfonic acid upon exposure to high-energy radiation selected from UV, deep-UV, EUV, electron beam, x-ray, excimer laser, gamma-ray and synchrotron radiation, said sulfonic acid having the general formula (1a): RC(═O)R¹—COOCH(CF₃)CF₂SO₃ ⁻H⁺  (1a) wherein R is selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryl or C₄-C₁₅ hetero-aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkoxy group, and a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryloxy or C₄-C₁₅ hetero-aryloxy group, R¹ is a divalent C₁-C₂₀ organic group which may have a substituent group containing a heteroatom selected from oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur atoms, or R¹ may form at least one cyclic structure with R.
 2. A sulfonium salt having the general formula (2): RC(═O)—R¹—COOCH(CF₃)CF₂SO₃ ⁻R²R³R⁴S⁺  (2) wherein R is selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryl or C₄-C₁₅ hetero-aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkoxy group, and, a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryloxy or C₄-C₁₅ hetero-aryloxy group, R¹ is a divalent C₁-C₂₀ organic group which may have a substituent group containing a heteroatom selected from oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur atoms, or R¹ may form at least one cyclic structure with R, R², R³ and R⁴ are each independently selected from the group consisting of substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl, alkenyl and oxoalkyl groups, and substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₈ aryl, aralkyl and aryloxoalkyl groups, or at least two of R², R³ and R⁴ may bond together to form a ring with the sulfur atom.
 3. A sulfonium salt having the general formula (2a): RC(═O)—R¹—COOCH(CF₃)CF₂SO₃ ⁻(R⁵(O)_(n))_(m)Ph′S⁺Ph₂  (2a) wherein R is selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryl or C₄-C₁₅ hetero-aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkoxy group, and a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryloxy or C₄-C₁₅ hetero-aryloxy group, R¹ is a divalent C₁-C₂₀ organic group which may have a substituent group containing a heteroatom selected from oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur atoms, or R¹ may form at least one cyclic structure with R, R⁵ is a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl or alkenyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₄ aryl group, m is an integer of 1 to 5, n is 0 or 1, Ph is phenyl, and Ph′ is a phenyl group in which a number “m” of hydrogen atoms are substituted by R⁵(O)_(n)— groups.
 4. A iodonium salt having the general formula (2b): RC(═O)—R¹—COOCH(CF₃)CF₂SO₃ ⁻[(R⁵(O)_(n))_(m)Ph′]₂I⁺  (2b) wherein R is selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryl or C₄-C₁₅ hetero-aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkoxy group, and a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryloxy or C₄-C₁₅ hetero-aryloxy group, R¹ is a divalent C₁-C₂₀ organic group which may have a substituent group containing a heteroatom selected from oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur atoms, or R¹ may form at least one cyclic structure with R, R⁵ is a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl or alkenyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₄ aryl group, m is an integer of 1 to 5, n is 0 or 1, and Ph′ is a phenyl group in which a number “m” of hydrogen atoms are substituted by R⁵(O)_(n)— groups.
 5. A N-sulfonyloxyimide compound having the general formula (3a):

wherein R is selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryl or C₄-C₁₅ hetero-aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkoxy group, and a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryloxy or C₄-C₁₅ hetero-aryloxy group, R¹ is a divalent C₁-C₂₀ organic group which may have a substituent group containing a heteroatom selected from oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur atoms, or R¹ may form at least one cyclic structure with R, X and Y are each independently hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₆ alkyl group, or X and Y may bond together to form a saturated or unsaturated C₆-C₁₂ ring with the carbon atoms to which they are attached, and Z is a single bond, double bond, methylene group or oxygen atom.
 6. An oxime sulfonate compound having the general formula (3b):

wherein R is selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryl or C₄-C₁₅ hetero-aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted straight, branched or cyclic C₁-C₂₀ alkoxy group, and a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryloxy or C₄-C₁₅ hetero-aryloxy group, R¹ is a divalent C₁-C₂₀ organic group which may have a substituent group containing a heteroatom selected from oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur atoms, or R¹ may form at least one cyclic structure with R, q is 0 or 1, when q is 0, p is a substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ aryl group, when q is 1, p is a single bond, a substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₂₀ alkylene group or a substituted or unsubstituted C₆-C₁₅ arylene group, EWG is a cyano, trifluoromethyl, perfluoroethyl, perfluoropropyl, 5H-perfluoropentyl, 6H-perfluorohexyl, nitro or methyl group, and when q is 1, two EWG's may bond together to form a ring of 6 carbon atoms with the carbon atoms to which they are attached.
 7. A resist composition comprising a base resin, an acid generator, and an organic solvent, said acid generator comprising a photoacid generator which generates a sulfonic acid having formula (1a) as set forth in claim
 1. 8. The resist composition of claim 7, wherein said base resin is at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(meth)acrylic acid and derivatives thereof, cycloolefin derivative/maleic anhydride alternating copolymers, copolymers of ternary or more components comprising a cycloolefin derivative, maleic anhydride, and polyacrylic acid or derivatives thereof, cycloolefin derivative/α-trifluoromethyl acrylate derivative copolymers, polynorbornene, ring-opening metathesis polymers, and hydrogenated ring-opening metathesis polymers.
 9. The resist composition of claim 7, wherein said base resin is a polymeric structure containing silicon atoms.
 10. The resist composition of claim 7, wherein said base resin is a polymeric structure containing fluorine atoms.
 11. A chemically amplified positive resist composition comprising a base resin as set forth in claim 8, 9 or 10, a photoacid generator which generates a sulfonic acid having formula (1a) as set forth in claim 1, and a solvent, wherein said base resin is insoluble or substantially insoluble in a liquid developer, and becomes soluble under the action of the acid.
 12. The chemically amplified positive resist composition of claim 11, further comprising a quencher.
 13. The chemically amplified positive resist composition of claim 11, further comprising a dissolution inhibitor.
 14. A process for forming a pattern comprising the steps of: applying the resist composition of claim 7 onto a substrate to form a coating, heat treating the coating and exposing it to high-energy radiation having a wavelength of up to 300 nm through a photomask, and optionally heat treating and developing the exposed coating with a developer.
 15. The process of claim 14, wherein the exposing step relies on immersion lithography comprising directing radiation from an ArF excimer laser having a wavelength of 193 nm through a projection lens, with a liquid such as water, glycerin or ethylene glycol intervening between the coated substrate and the projection lens. 